DATE=4/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229733
TITLE=CHINA/U-S COMPANIES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA IS ADDING ITS VOICE TO DENIALS OF A MEDIA REPORT
CLAIMING THE COUNTRY RECEIVED MISSILE TECHNOLOGY FROM TWO U-S
COMPANIES. CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE
CONTROVERSY CENTERS AROUND WHETHER THE U-S COMPANIES PROVIDED
CHINA WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION REGARDING MISSILE GUIDANCE, WHICH
HELPED IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF ITS NUCLEAR MISSILES.
TEXT: EARLIER THIS WEEK, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NEWSPAPER QUOTED A
CLASSIFIED DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT AS SAYING SCIENTISTS FROM
THE U-S COMPANIES, LORAL SPACE AND HUGHES ELECTRONICS
CORPORATION, PROVIDED INAPPROPRIATE INFORMATION TO CHINA.
AT A REGULAR BRIEFING (THURSDAY), CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY
SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO SAID THE EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE U-S
COMPANIES AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES WERE NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
// ZHU AND TRANSLATOR ACT //
(CHINESE) AS FAR I KNOW, THE RELEVANT COMPANIES IN THE U-S,
PARTICULARLY ITS TECHNICAL EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE SPACE
INDUSTRY AUTHORITIES ON MISSILE LAUNCH, ARE NORMAL ACTIVITIES
HELD IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE. (IT IS) OUT OF THE
QUESTION FOR THEM TO HAVE ANY PROVISION OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.
// END ACT //
THE CHINESE STATEMENT FOLLOWS COMMENTS BY LORAL PRESIDENT GREGORY
CLARK, WHO WEDNESDAY SAID HIS COMPANY FEELS IT DID NOT DIVULGE
INAPPROPRIATE INFORMATION TO CHINA.
IN FEBRUARY, 1996, A CHINESE "LONG-MARCH ROCKET", THAT WAS TO
HAVE LAUNCHED A 200-MILLION DOLLAR LORAL SATELLITE, CRASHED. THE
NEWSPAPER REPORTS IN THEIR POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION LORAL AND
HUGHES ALSO DISCUSSED SENSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE ROCKET'S GUIDANCE
AND CONTROL SYSTEMS.
THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE PENTAGON REPORT CONCLUDED U-S NATIONAL
SECURITY HAD BEEN HARMED.
MOST TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA WERE BANNED AFTER THE BLOODY
1989 SUPPRESSION OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE DEMOCRACY
DEMONSTRATIONS, AND HAVE SINCE REQUIRED PRESIDENTIAL WAIVERS.
BUT, THE LORAL PRESIDENT SAYS HE DOES NOT EXPECT THIS
CONTROVERSY TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON HIS COMPANY'S BUSINESS IN
CHINA. AS DEMAND FOR DATA BROADCASTING SURGES, LORAL SPACE HAS
BEEN ATTRACTED BY CHINA'S LOW-COST ROCKETS FOR ITS SATELLITE
LAUNCHES.
LORAL SPACE RECENTLY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH CHINA'S "GREAT WALL
INDUSTRY CORPORATION" FOR FIVE LAUNCHES UNTIL THE YEAR 2002,
USING LONG-MARCH ROCKETS. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC/RAE
16-Apr-98 6:29 AM EDT (1029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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