China remains staunchly opposed to plans by Washington to develop a national missile defense system after the United States tested its controversial missile defense shield.
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File photo of an interceptor launch in the central Pacific during a 1999 test Photo: Reuters
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"Our position on missile defense is very clear and consistent: we are opposed to the United States building a missile defense system," a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
"Instead we believe that relevant sides should, through sincere and serious dialogues, seek a solution that does not compromise any side's security interests, nor harm international efforts at arms-control and disarmament," she said.
The US said it took a major step forward in testing its missile defense shield yesterday by shooting down a dummy warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean.
Both Russia and China oppose US plans to develop a missile shield, saying it would violate the 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty and could trigger a new arms race.
The test is part of President George W Bush's goal of building a limited shield to protect against ballistic missiles from "rogue" nations such as North Korea, Iran and Iraq.
US officials say the current missile defense tests do not violate the ABM treaty between the United States and the former Soviet Union. That treaty forbids the United States or Russia from developing a national missile defense.
But Mr Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have vowed to move beyond that pact if Moscow and Washington cannot reach agreement on updating it.
Despite agreeing to new and deep cuts in offensive nuclear missiles by both countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Bush failed to agree on the anti-missile program at a summit in Texas last month, but said discussions would continue.