The World - News from July 3, 1988

Syria denied reports that it is about to buy advanced missiles from China, saying it has enough of its own. “Statements by Israeli officials on a missile deal between Syria and China had increased recently, although the Israelis know well there is no such deal between Syria and China,” a military spokesman said in Damascus. Newsweek magazine has reported that China is about to sell Syria missiles with a range of at least 350 miles. Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin said in Washington last week that China and Syria were talking about such a deal, and he signed a missile research deal with the United States that he said might counter the threat from Arab missiles and chemical weapons.