China, Japan experts destroy WW11 weapons

Chinese and Japanese experts have begun destroying a stockpile of World War 11 chemical weapons in north-eastern China,

Our China correspondent, John Taylor, says a group of Chinese and Japanese experts have arrived in Qiqihar city, in northeastern China, to destroy chemical weapons left behind by Japanese troops at the end of World War 11.

In August one person died in the city and 42 others were injured after barrels of mustard gas were dug up at a construction site.

Since then the chemical weapons have been collected and stored in a local warehouse.

United Nations officials will monitor the disposal of the material.

Chinese experts estimate as many as two million Japanese chemical weapons remain unearthed in China.

07/11/2003 22:41:58 | ABC Radio Australia News