Tuesday, March 15 2005 10:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Observing that proliferation continued in China, the United States has said that it would "encourage" Beijing through diplomatic channels to move its policies in the right direction to prevent such activities.

"While Beijing has taken important steps to strengthen its non-proliferation laws and policies, more work remains to be done toward effective and consistent implementation and enforcement of its laws and policies. Unacceptable proliferant activity continues," assistant secretary of State for Arms Control, Stephen Rademaker said.

"Until China's non-proliferation policies and practices fully meet international standards, United States will continue to encourage China at high levels and through diplomatic channels to move its policies in the right direction," Rademaker said, addressing the US-China Economic Review Commission on Thursday (Mar 10, 2005).

He said that US would also use sanctions to deter further proliferant activities by Chinese entities.

The George W Bush administration has imposed sanctions against Chinese entities engaged in proliferation on sixty occasions, compared to the eight times during the eight years of the Clinton administration, Rademaker said.