MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - A missile defense system developed jointly by the world's leading powers could eliminate the global threat of nuclear strikes, a former top Russian military official said on Monday.
The U.S. last week announced the cancellation of plans to deploy an anti-missile system in central Europe, which had been fiercely contested by Moscow. NATO has since said it is willing to consider a joint missile defense project with Russia.
"If we return to the issue of a European missile defense system, which was abandoned a few years ago and included the U.S., we could organize mutual controls, and use the means available to all participants, in order to control the mutual nuclear potential," said Col. Gen. Viktor Yesin, who led the Strategic Missile Forces in 1991-1993.
If a global missile defense system was to be built in cooperation with Russia, France, Italy, Israel and Britain, on equal terms, then China would also need to be included, he said.
"If we decide to do this without China, then on a certain level, China may react angrily," Yesin said.
According to a senior fellow at the Center for International Security, Gen. Maj. Vladimir Dvorkovich, China would have to be included in data collection at first in order to ease possible tensions with China.
"Without China, this would be dangerous and irrational. China is a very significant player in these processes," Dvorkovich said.
According to Yesin, a framework document would need to be created that would be open for all interested parties in order to create a unified missile defense system "from Vladivostok to Vancouver."
"China must not sit on the sidelines and if we develop such a global system, then we will not be afraid of any nuclear strike," Yesin said.
Missile defense remains a controversial issue in military circles, with many experts saying the technology for intercepting ballistic missiles - often compared to hitting a bullet with a bullet - is still a long way off.
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency says interception of incoming missiles "has been successfully demonstrated in test after test," while critics say the tests depend on detailed advance planning and information on the incoming missile.
