China probes Libya nuke links
BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- China is investigating a U.S. newspaper report that Chinese atomic bomb plans had been discovered in Libya after being sent there from Pakistan and stopped short of a denial.
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A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman declined to confirm or deny the report on Tuesday, saying only that an investigation was under way and reiterating China's opposition to nuclear proliferation.
"China expresses its concern about the relevant reports. We are trying to learn more about the circumstances," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a news conference.
The Washington Post, citing government officials and arms experts, reported on Sunday that documents turned over by Libya yielded "dramatic evidence" of China's long-suspected role in transferring nuclear knowhow to Pakistan in the early 1980s.
"The Chinese position is very clearcut. China consistently has been opposed to the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology and supports the international community's efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation," Zhang said.
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