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CNN Live At Daybreak
Chinese Reaction to Bush's Announcement
Aired February 12, 2004 - 05:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush wants the world's most influential nations to join in his call for an end to the spread of nuclear and biological weapons. A key nation in the Bush strategy, China.
So let's head live now to Beijing and our bureau chief there, Jaime Florcruz, for some reaction to the president's proposals -- hello, Jaime.
JAMIE FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
China agrees with the U.S. that the weapons of mass destruction should be curbed. That was the reaction from Beijing to President Bush's speech on the issue. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that China is willing to work with the U.S. and the international community to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
China itself, she said, has taken several measures to do that. For example, she said that China has issued a new set of regulations and laws which tighten the export of weapons and sensitive technology and that, she said that the Chinese are also willing to discuss participation in other international treaties to that end.
However, she kind of declined to criticize Pakistan and North Korea directly, which are China's closest allies -- Carol.
COSTELLO: You know, Jaime, I was just going to ask you about North Korea, because it's very close to China. And China supposedly has all this pull with the North Korean leader. But it is unwilling right now to come down harder on that nation. Of course, you just said that, but can you expound on that more for our viewers?
FLORCRUZ: Well, sure. Well, China itself is very concerned that Korea might turn nuclear. China has publicly said that it opposes the nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, that is opposes the nuclear program of North Korea. However, it kind of differs with the U.S. on how to achieve that goal. China still insists that the best way to achieve that is through negotiations and that's why it is actively pursuing and hosting this series of six party talks to resolve the stand-off.
However, it also hopes that the U.S. will give North Korea the security guarantees that they hope they will get in exchange for the promise to stop its nuclear weapons program -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jaime Florcruz reporting live from Beijing this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 12, 2004 - 05:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush wants the world's most influential nations to join in his call for an end to the spread of nuclear and biological weapons. A key nation in the Bush strategy, China.
So let's head live now to Beijing and our bureau chief there, Jaime Florcruz, for some reaction to the president's proposals -- hello, Jaime.
JAMIE FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
China agrees with the U.S. that the weapons of mass destruction should be curbed. That was the reaction from Beijing to President Bush's speech on the issue. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that China is willing to work with the U.S. and the international community to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
China itself, she said, has taken several measures to do that. For example, she said that China has issued a new set of regulations and laws which tighten the export of weapons and sensitive technology and that, she said that the Chinese are also willing to discuss participation in other international treaties to that end.
However, she kind of declined to criticize Pakistan and North Korea directly, which are China's closest allies -- Carol.
COSTELLO: You know, Jaime, I was just going to ask you about North Korea, because it's very close to China. And China supposedly has all this pull with the North Korean leader. But it is unwilling right now to come down harder on that nation. Of course, you just said that, but can you expound on that more for our viewers?
FLORCRUZ: Well, sure. Well, China itself is very concerned that Korea might turn nuclear. China has publicly said that it opposes the nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, that is opposes the nuclear program of North Korea. However, it kind of differs with the U.S. on how to achieve that goal. China still insists that the best way to achieve that is through negotiations and that's why it is actively pursuing and hosting this series of six party talks to resolve the stand-off.
However, it also hopes that the U.S. will give North Korea the security guarantees that they hope they will get in exchange for the promise to stop its nuclear weapons program -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jaime Florcruz reporting live from Beijing this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
