Index

24.02.2000

THE CONTINUING PERSISTENT ATTEMPTS BY THE UNITED STATES TO EXPAND THE MILITARY ALLIANCE WITH JAPAN BY IMPARTING A NEW DIMENSION TO IT - THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION WITH THE JAPANESE SIDE IN THE CREATION OF A THEATER ABM SYSTEM IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION - HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED IN MOSCOW ¹ 77

77-24-2-2000

Unofficial translation
PRESS RELEASE

The continuing persistent attempts by the United States to expand the military alliance with Japan by imparting a new dimension to it - the development of cooperation with the Japanese side in the creation of a theater ABM system in the Asia-Pacific region - have not gone unnoticed in Moscow. Judging by press reports, during his meeting in Tokyo with the head of Japan's Defense Agency Mr. Kawara the U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Slocomb argued the expediency of such steps by "the need to think about a military approach" in the context of the dialogue with the DPRK. The Russian side has already stated its attitude to the new parameters of the military cooperation of the United States with Japan. As to plans to create a regional theater ABM system, considerable concern is caused by the aim of creating such a system near Russia's borders. Evidently, it is being regarded as a link of the first interception echelon of the future national ABM system of the United States.
The idea of creating a regional theater ABM system in the Asia-Pacific region with a very limited number of participants has already generated concern in Asia and beyond it. The appearance of such a system may exert a destabilizing impact on strategic stability in the region, disrupt the existing regional balance of forces and provoke an arms race. Such concerns could be eliminated, we believe, by the implementation of Russia's idea to create a global system for monitoring the non-proliferation of missiles and missile technologies. This could help restrain the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and vehicles for their delivery. We also believe it fundamentally important to form in the Asia-Pacific region at some point in the future a multilateral mechanism for ensuring security with equal rights and possibilities for all of its participants.
February 24, 2000