DATE=7/2/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CHINA PAKISTAN (L) NUMBER=2-263993 BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S intelligence officials have told the Clinton administration and Congress that China is helping Pakistan build long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. As Correspondent Jim Randle reports, a weapons expert says the new information shows Pakistan has a stronger missile program than previously thought -complicating efforts to slow the spread of advanced weapons technology. TEXT: U-S intelligence agencies say China has stopped shipping completed missiles to Pakistan, but instead is sending information, materials, and experts needed to help Pakistan improve missiles on its own. This help is said to include specialty steel and guidance systems. One published report says Chinese experts have been seen near Pakistan's newest missile factory, which bears a close resemblance to Chinese weapons facilities. The information was apparently leaked to major U-S newspapers after intelligence agencies briefed key members of Congress on the development. The shipments from China increased after South Asian rivals India and Pakistan set off nuclear tests in 1998. The Clinton administration is sending a high-ranking delegation Tuesday to Beijing to discuss the issue. The team is led by arms-control expert John Holum. Weapons technology expert John Pike, of the private Federation of American Scientists, says Pakistan now has its own domestic development and production capability for missiles, rather than having to import entire missiles from China. /// PIKE ACT // So the United States has prevented one form of missile proliferation between China and Pakistan, now only to have this more difficult- to-track technical assistance gate open up. After the nuclear weapons tests (by India and Pakistan) two-years ago, China resumed technical assistance to Pakistan since both China and Pakistan are concerned about India's nuclear and missile programs and they share a common adversary. /// END ACT /// Mr. Pike says Beijing's technical assistance to Pakistan's missile program is likely to be `a major irritant' in relations between China and the United States during the next few years. /// REST OPT /// And a report published in the New York Times says the new intelligence could complicate or even imperil Senate passage of normal trade relations with China. The trade bill has passed the House of Representatives - but only after a bruising political fight. The missile issue comes as relations between Beijing and Washington appeared to be warming after months of strain caused by the accidental bombing of China's embassy in Yugoslavia last year, and China's belligerent rhetoric toward Taiwan before the recent election on the island. (SIGNED) NEB/JR/RAE 02-Jul-2000 12:30 PM EDT (02-Jul-2000 1630 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
