Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230393
TITLE=DUAL USE TECHNOLOGY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=WILLIAM KAUFMANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  CHINA WAS THE FOCUS TUESDAY OF A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING IN
WASHINGTON ON HOW CLOSELY TO GUARD TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION 
AGAINST THE LURE OF MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR SALES TO A DYNAMIC 
MARKET.  AS V-O-A'S WILLIAM KAUFMANN REPORTS THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION'S TOP OFFICIAL ON EXPORT CONTROLS SAYS RAPID 
TECHNOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL CHANGE MAKES FOR A VERY COMPLICATED 
SITUATION. 
TEXT:  COMMERCE DEPARTMENT UNDERSECRETARY WILLIAM REINSCH WAS 
SUMMONED TO DISCUSS CONTROL OF DUAL USE TECHNOLOGY, THINGS LIKE 
SATELLITES AND SUPER COMPUTERS, THAT HAVE BOTH MILITARY AND 
CIVILIAN USES.
MR. REINSCH SAYS ONE COMPLICATING ISSUE IS THAT THE MILITARY NOW 
ROUTINELY BUYS CIVILIAN TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER AND 
MORE ADVANCED. 
                     /// REINSCH ACT ONE // 
         THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT IS CLEARLY CIVILIAN AND WHAT IS 
         CLEARLY MILITARY, PARTICULARLY IN THE ELECTRONICS AREA, 
         GETS BLURRED.  THAT MAKES IT HARDER TO MAKE EXPORT 
         CONTROL DECISIONS AND IT MAKES THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE 
         DECISION MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT. 
                         // END ACT ///
MR. REINSCH ALSO SAYS OLD "COLD WAR" SOLUTIONS ARE NO LONGER 
RELEVANT TO COMPLEX SITUATIONS SUCH AS CHINA.  AND WHILE SECURITY
AND NON-PROLIFERATION REMAIN CENTRAL TO U-S TRADE, HE  SAYS ONLY 
MULTI-LATERAL SOLUTIONS CAN SUCCEED. 
                     /// REINSCH ACT TWO // 
         THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN LOTS OF PARTS OF THE WORLD
         THAT MAKE A LOT OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE WISH WOULD NOT BE 
         SOLD TO IRAQ OR IRAN OR OTHER COUNTRIES. 
                         /// END ACT // 
IN FACT, A GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND THAT
RUSSIA AND ISRAEL DELIVERED MORE THAN 80-PERCENT OF THE MILITARY 
ITEMS SOLD TO CHINA BETWEEN 1990 AND 1996.
G-A-O ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR HAROLD JOHNSON SAYS THERE IS ALSO 
MOVEMENT WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION, TO EASE THE EMBARGO IT 
VOLUNTARILY IMPOSED AFTER THE 1989 TIANANMEN SQUARE CRACKDOWN.
                       /// JOHNSON  ACT //
         THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SOME E-U MEMBERS HAVE SOUGHT TO 
         INCREASE MILITARY SALES TO CHINA.  WE FOUND THAT AT 
         LEAST TWO E-U MEMBERS ARE NOW REASSESSING WHETHER THE 
         EMBARGO SHOULD CONTINUE. 
                         /// END  ACT //
MR. JOHNSON SAYS THE E-U MOVES ARE A RESULT OF ECONOMIC PRESSURES
COMBINED WITH BEIJING'S MOVES TO IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.
UNDERSECRETARY REINSCH SAYS ALL NATIONS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO 
BALANCE SECURITY AGAINST ITS REAL COST IN LOST TRADE. 
THE UNITED STATES SHIPPED OVER 12-BILLION DOLLARS IN SATELLITES 
AND COMPUTERS TO CHINA LAST YEAR THAT MR. REINSCH SAYS WERE 
SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE REVIEW TO ENSURE U-S INTERESTS WERE 
POTECTED. (SIGNED). 
NEB/WJK/PT 
28-Apr-98 4:29 PM EDT (2029 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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