April 12, 1999
Web posted at: 5:43 a.m. EDT (0943 GMT)

BEIJING (CNN) -- China on Monday expressed regret and concern over India's test of a medium-range ballistic missile, saying it could trigger a new arms race in South Asia.

"It could trigger a new round of arms race in South Asia," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The Chinese side expresses regret and concern."

On Sunday, the United States said it had been informed two days in advance of India's test of a medium-range ballistic missile, and expressed its displeasure at the time.

Following the missile test, an angry Pakistan warned that it might respond with a missile test of its own.

White House spokesman Nanda Chitre also said the United States regards India's test Sunday of its nuclear-capable Agni II missile as "out of step" with regional political developments, and she said Washington urged India to practice "concrete restraint."

"We were informed in advance of the test and we told the government we regretted the decision," Chitre said.

India's Defense Minister George Fernandes told a news conference in New Delhi Sunday that the test had made the missile an operational weapons system.

"I believe we have reached a point where nobody from anywhere can dare threaten us," he said.

India informed Washington of its plans April 9, Chitre said. There was no immediate explanation of why the United States did not call attention to the test before it took place, she said.

India had told Washington it would also inform other recognized nuclear powers and Pakistan of its plans, Chitre said.

"While we appreciate India's efforts to provide transparency, we regret the decision to go ahead with this test," she said.

"The flight test appears to be out of step with recent political developments in the region including the recent Lahore summit (between India and Pakistan). The United States believes concrete restraints by India would further positive relations among countries in the region," she said.

The United States was surprised India's conducting of six nuclear weapons tests last May, which were followed by a round of tests from India's rival Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayeee and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after talks in the Pakistani city of Lahore in February, signed a declaration to take steps to prevent a nuclear clash as well as intensify efforts to settle disputes over the Himalayan region of Kashmir and other issues.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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