China offers nuclear assurance to Rumsfeld (Xinhua - English)

[icymist]

China offers nuclear assurance to Rumsfeld

www.chinaview.cn 2005-10-21 10:40:07

BEIJING, Oct. 21 -- The commander of China's nuclear missile forces told Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Wednesday that in an armed conflict China would not be the first to use nuclear weapons, according to the Associated Press.

Gen. Jing Zhiyuan, commander of the Second Artillery, which operates the country's arsenal of nuclear missiles, offered the assurance while hosting Rumsfeld as the first foreigner to visit his headquarters, according to two U.S. officials who participated in the meeting.

The officials briefed reporters afterward only on condition of anonymity because of the visit's sensitivity. They said Jing told Rumsfeld no foreigner had entered the command headquarters in its 39-year history. Rumsfeld signed a large, new and otherwise empty guest book.

The Chinese rejected a Rumsfeld request to visit their national military command center in the Western Hills.

Jing disavowed a recent public suggestion by another Chinese general that the United States could be targeted for a nuclear strike if it intervened in a conflict over Taiwan.

(more)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-10/21/content_3661297.htm

Okay, okay....we can trust the Chinese not to use nukes over Taiwan, right?

[KerryOn]

1. Thats exacly right, but I don't trust...

BUUUUUUSSSSSHHHH!

He will use them.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. That's nice...

we've changed our policy from 'no first use' to 'possible first use' and are busy developing a new generation of tactical nukes for offensive purposes.