WASHINGTON, June 23: President Bill Clinton refused to confirm or deny a report in Time magazine that China has given Pakistan 30 complete M-11 missiles and helped Islamabad to build a missile factory in Rawalpindi.

``I cannot comment on intelligence reports or alleged intelligence reports,'' Clinton said at the end of the `Summit of the Eight' press conference in Denver last night. ``I think it's fair to say that on these issues, we will not overlook them, we will not walk away from them, and we will make apropriate determinations and take appropriate action. The national security of the country is always going to be the most important thing,'' he said.

Defence analysts say that Clinton's answer is viewed as very tricky because the M-11s and the missile factory pose no danger to US security but they do to India and violate the missile technology control agreement and US laws.

Time said that for five years, the CIA has been carefully tracking the flow of Chinese M-11 missile components into Pakistan. The CIA in its report which it termed ``first class piece of spying'' said ``not only was China selling missiles to Pakistan but was also helping it build a factory to manufacture ballistic missiles''.

It said Clinton is determined not to do anything that will undermine trade and economic relations with China.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.