But the Bush administration restated Monday it would construct a defense against missiles, if one is needed, whatever Russia and other nations may think of the plan. Russia and China, which fears losing the deterrent power of their nuclear forces, firmly oppose the plan. China also worries that Washington might extend protection from such a system to rival Taiwan, reducing Beijing's ability to use its growing missile forces to intimidate the island it regards as a renegade province. Chinese officials say they would react strongly to any move to include Taiwan in a regional missile defense. If Washington builds a system to shield the United States, China has said it may respond by increasing its nuclear arsenal or make its warheads more accurate to overcome the U.S. defenses.
China says it already has begun discussions with Russia on how to overcome the system.
Washington says the system is aimed at defending against attacks from missile powers such as North Korea which it regards as unpredictable. Kelly said the program was not directed at any perceived threat from China. He also echoed President Bush's contention that the ABM treaty is outdated, and said it limits the United States' ability to help its allies. The missile dispute is among a range of issues bedeviling relations between Beijing and the Bush administration, which has been more critical of China and supportive of Taiwan. An April 1 collision between an American surveillance plane and a Chinese jet fighter strained relations.