US keeps wary eye on China's Cuban ties

WASHINGTON - The United States is voicing concern over Chinese arms shipments to Cuba, following reports that the People's Liberation Army had sent at least three loads of weapons and explosives to the communist state.

"We are very much concerned with this PLA cooperation and movement of military equipment into Cuba," the Assistant Secretary of State of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, James Kelly, told a House international relations subcommittee.

Kelly was responding to a question provoked by a report in The Washington Times which quoted unnamed US intelligence officials as saying that Beijing had sent shipments of weapons and explosives to Havana in recent months.

He said he had seen the report but, despite his expression of concern, Kelly did not specifically confirm the details it contained, adding that he had asked to be briefed further on the issue.

The shipments were traced from China to the Cuban port of Mariel and were shipped aboard vessels belonging to the China Ocean Shipping Co (Cosco), US intelligence officials told the Times. The transaction involved a "known Chinese arms dealer" who arranged the transfers, according to the Times.

The officials told the newspaper that one of the cargoes included "military-grade" dual-use explosives and detonation cord. The latest arms delivery reportedly coincided with the December 26-30 visit to Cuba of Chinese military chief of staff General Fu Quanyou.

Chinese arms shipments to Cuba could result in US economic sanctions on both China and Cosco, which has several operations in US ports, the officials said.

In Spain yesterday, President George W. Bush said the United States embargo on Cuba would stay "until Fidel Castro frees the prisoners, organises free elections and embraces freedom."

"I think that this is the right policy for the US," Bush said at a joint media conference with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

He said his Administration would look for solutions to problems Spanish companies might encounter with the US Helms-Burton law, which looks to punish foreign firms doing business with the Communist island-state.

The US embargo on Cuba was imposed in October 1960 after Castro ordered that US businesses and properties be expropriated and opened trade relations with the Soviet Union.

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