Inside the Ring
By Bill Gertz
June 15, 2007
China arming terrorists
New intelligence reveals China is covertly supplying large quantities of small arms and weapons to insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban militia in Afghanistan, through Iran.
U.S. government appeals to China to check some of the arms shipments in advance were met with stonewalling by Beijing, which insisted it knew nothing about the shipments and asked for additional intelligence on the transfers. The ploy has been used in the past by China to hide its arms-proliferation activities from the United States, according to U.S. officials with access to the intelligence reports.
Some arms were sent by aircraft directly from Chinese factories to Afghanistan and included large-caliber sniper rifles, millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket-propelled grenades and components for roadside bombs, as well as other small arms.
The Washington Times reported June 5 that Chinese-made HN-5 anti-aircraft missiles were being used by the Taliban.
According to the officials, the Iranians, in buying the arms, asked Chinese state-run suppliers to expedite the transfers and to remove serial numbers to prevent tracing their origin. China, for its part, offered to transport the weapons in order to prevent the weapons from being interdicted.
The weapons were described as "late-model" arms that have not been seen in the field before and were not left over from Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq.
U.S. Army specialists suspect the weapons were transferred within the past three months.
The Bush administration has been trying to hide or downplay the intelligence reports to protect its pro-business policies toward China, and to continue to claim that China is helping the United States in the war on terrorism. U.S. officials have openly criticized Iran for the arms transfers but so far there has been no mention that China is a main supplier.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Wednesday that the flow of Iranian arms to Afghanistan is "fairly substantial" and that it is likely taking place with the help of the Iranian government.
Defense officials are upset that Chinese weapons are being used to kill Americans. "Americans are being killed by Chinese-supplied weapons, with the full knowledge and understanding of Beijing where these weapons are going," one official said.
The arms shipments show that the idea that China is helping the United States in the war on terrorism is "utter nonsense," the official said.
|
|
|
|
|
AP
- 22 dead in Mo., Okla., Ga. after more storms
- President calls Jenna's wedding 'spectacular'
- Brush fires force home evacuations in Florida
- Medical helicopter crash in Wis. kills doctor, nurse, pilot
- AP IMPACT: Number of disabled veterans rising
- Families will make case for vaccine link to autism
- Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear
- Scientists probe recent coyote attacks in California
- College prof no walkover for Franken in Minn. Senate run
- 2008 valedictorian is different kind of 'Morehouse Man'
- Report: Problems with Seattle VA hospital
- 4 dolphins shot off California coast
- UPI NewsTrack TopNews
- 2nd Minneapolis sextuplet dies
- Johnston's release promised in Gaza
- Russia accuses Britain of spying
- Court upholds ban on spousal testimony
- Quebec considers limits on gun ownership
- Naples struggles with trash burden
- Officials: No more excuses from N. Korea
- Calif. urges public to prepare for heat
- Duke prosecutor to resign
- Toddler found in parking lot identified
- British poll shows dislike for immigrants
- Russia demands arrested official's return
Privacy Policy |
About TWT |
Community Relations |
Search |
Site Map |
Contact Us
Advertise |
Subscription Services |
TWT Gift Shop
All site contents copyright © 2007 The Washington Times, LLC.