ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:95062204.POL
DATE:06/22/95
TITLE:ADD STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, JUNE 22
TEXT:
(China/Iran) (600)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Spokesman Nicholas Burns discussed the following
topics:
CONCERNS CITED ON ALLEGED CHINESE SALE OF MISSILE PARTS TO IRAN
The United States is greatly concerned by allegations that China may
have sold ballistic missile components to Iran and is actively looking
into them, the spokesman told questioners.
"We have raised our concerns with the government of China in the
past," he said. "We will continue to do so. We had intended to raise
this issue at a June 12 meeting" between Robert Einhorn, deputy
assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, and his
Chinese counterpart, Burns said. But the Chinese cancelled that
meeting.
"The question of Chinese cooperation with Iran in the missile area is
of great concern," the spokesman said, adding "we've had a similar
concern with the government of Russia on nuclear energy related
technology."
He noted that the administration has had a series of discussions with
the Chinese government regarding allegations of the sale of missiles
and missile components to Pakistan in 1993. "In the fall of 1994, we
reached an agreement with the government of China on its commitment to
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines," Burns pointed
out.
At an April 17 meeting in New York, Secretary of State Christopher and
Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen agreed there should be periodic
mid-level and expert-level talks between the two governments on this
particular issue.
Subsequent to that, the United States has had a number of concerns
about alleged proliferation. "We have taken the reports of alleged
proliferation very seriously, and we continue to monitor and evaluate
the reports of any transfers that could contribute to missile
programs," Burns said.
The canceled June 12 meeting between Einhorn and his Chinese
counterpart was among the meetings the two ministers had agreed would
take place. The U.S. regrets the cancellation very much and hopes "the
Chinese government will agree that it's important that we have an
ongoing and specific dialogue on this issue," Burns said.
"We have not made a determination as to whether or not China's
activities constitute a violation of the Missile Technology Control
Regime guidelines to which they are committed, or of U.S. sanctions
law," the spokesman emphasized.
"This is a matter that is under review and will remain under review
and will remain at the top of our agenda with the Chinese government,"
he said. "We're looking forward to an opportunity to pursue these
expert-level talks so that we may bring these issues to the specific
attention of Chinese officials."
U.S. sanctions will not be imposed against China "in the absence of
information that is incontrovertible that China is in violation of
international agreements," Burns emphasized.
"The only responsible course to take," he said, "is to make a decision
on sanctions when the evidence is available, when it's
incontrovertible, and when we have an agreement in this government at
a very high level that that is the case." Burns added: "We are not at
that point."
The spokesman said the U.S. understands the Chinese government is
"strongly dissatisfied" with the U.S. decision to issue a visa to
President Li Teng-hui of Taiwan for a private visit to the United
States.
"We have a one-China policy. That policy is abundantly clear to the
leadership in Beijing. We intend to pursue our relationship with China
seriously," Burns said. "We need to have expert-level talks on this
particular issue of missile technology as well as on other subjects."
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