The Washington Times report about China providing weapons to al-Qaida after the September 11 terror attacks is "groundless", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing on Monday.
The Washington Times carried a story by reporter Bill Gertz on December 21, which claimed that a senior US official disclosed that China continued to provide weapons to al-Qaida after September 11.

The report is groundless and with ulterior motives, Zhang said, and the Chinese side has made serious representations to the US side on the matter.

She reiterated that China opposes terrorism of all forms and its stance is definite and consistent.

China has actively participated in the international cooperation of combating terrorism and rendered support and assistance to the US side since the September 11 incident, she said, adding that the facts are obvious to all.

She pointed out that a limited number of people in the United States have tried to use the rumor to defame China and impede the improvement of Sino-US relations. "Their ulterior motives are doomed to failure," she said.

(China Daily December 25, 2001)