Fed: Downer rules out tension with China over US missile plan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2000
Fed: Downer rules out tension with China over US missile plan

CANBERRA, Aug 20 AAP - Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer today denied any tension
between Australia and China over Australia's support for the United States' proposed national
missile defence system.

Mr Downer said discussions with the Chinese on arms control issues had not focused
on Australia because it was not involved with building the missile shield which was still
only a proposal.

"We have only said in relation to this that we're quite understanding that the United
States would want to take measures to protect themselves from attacks from missiles from
rogue states," he told the Seven Network when asked about reports of protests by China.

"It is absolutely not an issue of tension between Australia and China."

Mr Downer said China had made clear it saw a strong constructive relationship with
the US as a priority, although there were problems between the two, including the missile
shield.

He said human rights dialogues with China, such as last week's when Australia expressed
concerns about treatment of Falun Gong members and possible harassment of followers in
Australia, did make a difference.

"I think our dialogue and the dialogues that for example the European Union and Canada
have with China do make a difference," Mr Downer said.

"Inevitably there are going to be events during the course of years that we may not
like very much. On the other hand, there are developments that we would applaud. You get
a mixed result year by year.

"We have no illusions about China, China is not a liberal democracy, it's a pretty
authoritarian country ... and so civil liberties in China aren't what they are in Australia.

"I think it's appropriate for us to do what we can to try to encourage them down a
more progressive path towards greater civil liberties and observance of international
norms of human rights."

Mr Downer said there were signs of improvement in China's judicial system and poverty
levels, but the Falun Gong sect crackdown and repression of Tibetan culture were of great
concern.

AAP fh/it

KEYWORD: CHINA AUST

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