The comment was made by China's senior expert on arms control, Zhang Yan, director-general of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament within the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zhang made the comments during the release of the Cabinet's latest white paper, "China's Endeavors of Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation."

In the report China says: "The international community is in favor of maintaining multilateralism, pushing forward the international process of arms control and disarmament, constantly improving the international non-proliferation regime, stepping up international cooperation and coping with security challenges."

In May 2003, the Bush administration announced PSI to interdict shipments of weapons of mass destruction and related goods to terrorists and countries of proliferation concern. President Bush president said its aim was "to keep the world's most destructive weapons away from our shores and out of the hands of our common enemies."

Ten countries (Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom) originally joined the United States to craft and promote the initiative. Other nations (Russia, Canada, Norway, and Singapore) have since signed up and approximately 40 additional states have voiced varying degrees of support. China's response has been unenthusiastic thus far, part of its stated "independent foreign policy."

PSI's mission is to stop shipments of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, plus missiles and goods that can be used to deliver or produce such weapons to terrorists and countries suspected of trying to acquire WMD. PSI participants promise to carry out rapid response cargo interdictions at sea, in the air, or on land.

"The right of all countries to equal participation in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation affairs should be guaranteed and the international process promoted on the basis of no derogation of the security of all countries," the Chinese white paper stated.

Security analysts see this statement as an oblique reference to North Korea, a country heavily dependent upon Chinese goodwill, both for political existence and economic support. Ships registered to North Korea have been boarded on the high seas in the past when suspected of shipping WMD. China cannot accede to PSI without taking into account North Korea's sensitivities.

At the same time, China's maritime patrols have been criticized as porous and inadequate for interdiction purposes. While growing, the roots of Chinese law cited to prove the country's commitment to enforceable curtailing of arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation issues is still shallow in its depth.

The first chapter examining the international security and arms control situation states: "The issue of non-proliferation should be dealt with by political and diplomatic means within the framework of international law. The existing international legal system on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation should be maintained, further strengthened and improved."

Although it was not specifically mentioned in the 46 page document, Zhang said China had concerns about PSI though it noted its significance.

"On the whole China understands the concerns of relevant countries regarding proliferation activities and shares the non-proliferation objectives of PSI; we also maintain that international cooperation against proliferation activities be carried out within the framework of international law," Zhang said.

"The PSI has so far failed to completely exclude the possibility of interdiction operations beyond the framework of current international law; that is where China and other countries concerned lies, as well as the major reason why those countries have not joined the PSI. We hope the participating countries to PSI will seriously take into consideration these concerns and act with caution," he concluded.

China met one of the goals of PSI by joining in the Container Security Initiative in July 2003 allowing pre-screening of containers destined for the United States from the ports of Shenzhen and Shanghai. Since then the country has been hesitant about enhancing its capabilities intercepting illegal trade and smuggling activities, including illicit weapons transactions aside from enacting new legislation.

The Chinese white paper makes the observations: "The international non-proliferation process is facing challenges. The prospect for settling regional nuclear issues is still blurry and the risks of terrorist organizations and other non-state entities acquiring weapons of mass destruction are growing."

Given the Chinese regime's desire to improve its standing in American public opinion during the visit by President Hu Jintao next week, PSI could be one of the subtle areas where China can impress the United States with a true desire to shape a partnership for a safer security future.

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