Moscow does not insist on China’s participation in INF talks - ambassador

BEIJING, February 14. /TASS/. Russia does not insist on China’s participation in intermediate and shorter range missile talks, because it is aware of its problems in maintaining the national defense capability, Russian ambassador to China Andrei Denisov told the Russian media in an interview on Thursday. At the same time he did not rule out a wider discussion of such issues in the longer term. In reply to question from TASS Denisov said that the United States’ expected pullout from the INF Treaty would surely cause a certain impact on military and political stability in the region. "The US-initiated pullout from the treaty will surely affect relations among different countries and the situation in eastern, southeastern and northeastern Asia," he warned. China, he said, proceeds from the assumption the future of the INF Treaty is a matter of bilateral Russian-US relations. "China is for preserving the treaty, but it is unprepared for joining the discussion on this issue for a variety of reasons. We understand these reasons and do not insist," Denisov stated. He believes that the overall military and political stability in the region is faced with a very serious risks, such as reconfiguration of the existing balance of forces and defense systems of different countries, which will encounter the need for building up their defense potentials. "Should the United States create this class of missiles, they may be deployed at US military bases on the territory of US allies in the region. This will increase threats to China in the first place. Beijing, which is not an ally of the United States or signatory to that treaty, is building its system of strategic stability largely with reliance on this type of weapons. In a word, there is a list of very acute questions," Denisov said. Preventing collapse of existing system is essential Denisov said that Russia was not conducting any special consultations with China on this issue, but the theme of the INF Treaty was touched upon in the process of other contacts, first and foremost between foreign ministries. "China is not a signatory to this treaty. Nor does it show any intention to join any negotiations. We do not expect this of China anyway, for we are aware of its problems of maintaining defense capabilities. It is possible that these issues will become a subject matter for a wider discussion at some future date. The main concern today is to prevent the collapse of the existing system," he concluded. On February 1, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Washington was suspending compliance with its liabilities under the INF Treaty starting from February 2 and would terminate it altogether in six months’ time. In response Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Moscow was pausing its participation in the treaty, too. Also, he issued instructions to refrain from initiating talks with Washington on this problem, adding that the United States was to mature to a point where it would be eager to have an equitable and meaningful dialogue. Read more