China denies targeting U.S. cities

BEIJING — China’s strategic missile forces commander today told Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that China is not targeting U.S. cities with missiles and will not be the first to use nuclear arms in a conflict.

The commander, Gen. Jing Zhiyuan, made the comments in an effort to clarify recent statements by a Chinese general who said Beijing is prepared to strike hundreds of U.S. cities with nuclear weapons if the United States defends Taiwan from mainland attack.

“There have been suggestions of late that China is targeting other countries. This is completely groundless,” Gen. Jing said, according to U.S. defense officials present at an unprecedented briefing on Chinese strategic forces.

According to the officials, Gen. Jing also stated that China agreed in 2000 not to target any other nation and said its nuclear weapons are under safe and secure control. China continues to adhere to a 40-year policy of not being the first combatant in a conflict to use nuclear weapons, known as “no first use,” he said.

The comments by Gen. Jing, along with a PowerPoint slide presentation by another officer, marked the first time senior U.S. defense officials were briefed inside the Chinese military’s Second Artillery Corps headquarters at Qinghe, north of Beijing.

The visit took place hours before Mr. Rumsfeld met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who said furthering U.S.-Chinese military exchanges and visits is a “vital” part of developing overall U.S.-Chinese relations.

“The military-to-military relationship is a vital component to the overall relationship between the two nations,” Mr. Hu said during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People.

Mr. Rumsfeld thanked Mr. Hu for hosting his visit and congratulated China on the successful flight of its Shenzhou spacecraft, which returned to Earth Monday.

The discussion of Chinese nuclear targeting followed statements in July by Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu, who said that “if the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China’s territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons.”

Gen. Zhu also said that China is prepared for the destruction of all cities east of central China in a conflict over Taiwan and that “of course the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds … of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”

Chinese officials later said Gen. Zhu’s comments did not reflect the government’s view but did not refute them.

The briefing for Mr. Rumsfeld mentioned strategic missile training, organization and weapons, including the two versions of the new road-mobile Dong Feng-31 missile — the longer-range DF-31A and the submarine-launched JL-2.

One defense official said the strategic nuclear forces discussion was an encouraging start.

“This is an opening we’ve been looking to get into for a long time,” he said.

The various discussions between Chinese officials and Mr. Rumsfeld are part of an effort by China’s government to dispel Pentagon concerns outlined in a recent report to Congress on China’s military buildup.

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