Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228751
TITLE=CHINA/U-S/PROLIFERATION (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AMERICA'S TOP ARMS NEGOTIATOR SAYS CHINA HAS LIVED UP TO 
COMMITMENTS IT HAS MADE TO WASHINGTON ON NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION, 
BUT THAT BEIJING NEEDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS CONTROLS OVER MISSILE 
EXPORTS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS JOHN HOLUM 
WAS IN THE CHINESE CAPITAL FOR TWO DAYS OF TALKS ON ARMS CONTROL 
AND SECURITY MATTERS, IN ADVANCE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT TO 
CHINA LATER THIS YEAR.
TEXT:  MR. HOLUM -- WHO HEADS THE U-S ARMS CONTROL AND 
DISARMAMENT AGENCY AND IS ALSO AN ACTING UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE
-- TOLD REPORTERS CHINA HAS ABIDED BY AGREEMENTS  NOT  TO AID 
UNSAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR FACILITIES OR ENGAGE IN NUCLEAR COOPERATION
WITH IRAN.
                        /// HOLUM ACT ///
         OUR BASIC CONCLUSION IS THAT THE CHINESE HAVE LIVED UP 
         TO THE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS THEY'VE MADE TO US.  WHEN WE
         HAVE CONCERNS, WE RAISE THEM, AND -- SO FAR -- WE'VE 
         BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THEM.
                         /// END ACT ///
EARLIER THIS MONTH, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THAT U-S OBJECTIONS 
STOPPED CHINA FROM NEGOTIATING THE SALE TO IRAN OF A CHEMICAL 
USED TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
BUT MR. HOLUM SAYS HE IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT MISSILE 
PROLIFERATION.
                        /// HOLUM ACT ///
         WE HAVE A VERY STRONG INTEREST IN PROMOTING RESTRAINT IN
         MISSILE-RELATED EXPORTS.  IN THIS REGARD, WE'VE BEEN 
         ENCOURAGING CHINA TO STRENGTHEN ITS CONTROLS OF MISSILE 
         RELATED EXPORTS.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS CHINA HAS SO FAR RESPONDED
TO U-S CONCERNS.
                        /// HOLUM ACT ///
         OUR PRACTICE, WHEN WE HAVE A CONCERN -- WHEN WE HAVE 
         INFORMATION SUGGESTING THAT SOMETHING MAY BE AMISS -- IS
         TO CONSULT WITH OUR CHINESE COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO WORK 
         OUT THE DETAILS, AND -- THUS FAR -- THAT PROCESS HAS 
         BEEN QUITE PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. HOLUM'S TALKS IN BEIJING COME ONE WEEK AFTER A 1985 U-S / 
CHINESE AGREEMENT ON PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY WENT INTO 
EFFECT, FOLLOWING WHITE HOUSE CERTIFICATION THAT BEIJING IS  NOT 
ENGAGED IN PROLIFERATION OR TRANSFERS OF WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION. 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PACT WAS HELD UP BY WASHINGTON'S CONCERNS 
ABOUT CHINESE TRANSFERS OF WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN AND 
PAKISTAN.  NOW, U-S COMPANIES ARE EXPECTED TO TRY TO CARVE OUT A 
SLICE OF CHINA'S HUGE POTENTIAL MARKET FOR NUCLEAR POWER 
EQUIPMENT.
MR. HOLUM SAYS CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES REACHED  NO  
AGREEMENTS DURING HIS TWO-DAY VISIT AND STILL HAVE A GREAT DEAL 
OF WORK TO DO ON PROLIFERATION MATTERS.  BUT HE SAYS THE TWO 
SIDES INCREASINGLY APPROACH THE ISSUE FROM A COMMON PERSPECTIVE. 
CHINA'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER -- TANG JIAXUAN -- SAYS THOUGH 
BEIJING AND WASHINGTON HAVE COMMON CONCERNS ON WEAPONS 
PROLIFERATION, DIFFERENCES STILL REMAIN.  BUT MR. TANG SAYS CHINA
WANTS TO DISCUSS THOSE DIFFERENCES IN TALKS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER
MR. CLINTON'S UPCOMING VISIT. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/MMK
26-Mar-98 8:56 AM EST (1356 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.