China's Eager Missile Merchants

By DAVID ELLIS

Relations between the U.S. and China are being threatened by Beijing's renewed efforts to sell the weapons and technology of mass destruction. Intelligence sources say the Chinese delivered M-11 missiles to Pakistan last month. The M- | 11, with a range of about 180 miles, is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Meanwhile China is offering Syria M-9 missiles, which have a range of about 375 miles. Last month Assistant Secretary of State Richard Solomon flew to Beijing to protest the sales. China's missile mongering means Beijing has turned its back on a commitment to Washington that it would no longer sell such weapons in the region. Despite the U.S. pressure, China seems determined to continue the arms bazaar. Beijing officials are well aware that the U.S. is reluctant to stop Syrian President Hafez Assad -- an allied coalition partner in the gulf war -- from making a major weapons purchase.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart