From NewKerala.com
9/14/2006
China today scotched media reports that the ruling Communist Party may revise the 1961 defence treaty with North Korea, which is engaged in a diplomatic stand-off with the United States on the nuclear issue.
“We don’t plan to amend the treaty,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters when asked to comment on media reports.
The ruling Communist Party of China, which will hold its annual meeting in October may discuss the possibility of revising the treaty with North Korea that commits Beijing to come to the aid of Pyongyang should it come under attack from foreign forces, a Hong Kong rights group had claimed yesterday.
The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said in a statement that the revision to the mutual friendship and cooperation treaty will be discussed in a bid to prevent China from becoming involved in a possible war on the Korean Peninsula.
China is North Korea’s traditional ally and main aid provider to the reclusive nation.
Beijing is apparently unhappy with Pyongyang’s recent missile tests and refusal to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear programmes.
