Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-231814
TITLE=CONGRESS / CHINA SATELLITES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   REPUBLICANS IN THE U-S CONGRESS PLAN TO INVESTIGATE THE 
SALE OF AMERICAN COMMERCIAL SATELLITES TO CHINA. V-O-A'S PAULA 
WOLFSON REPORTS BOTH SECURITY AND POLITICAL CONCERNS ARE LIKELY 
TO DRIVE THEIR INQUIRY.
TEXT:     CONGRESS PLANS TO FOCUS ON SATELLITES EXPORTED TO CHINA
BY TWO AMERICAN AEROSPACE COMPANIES:   LORAL SPACE AND 
COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, AND HUGHES ELECTRONIC CORPORATION. 
THE SALE OF SATELLITES TO CHINA IS RESTRICTED UNDER U-S LAW. THE 
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY WITH POSSIBLE MILITARY APPLICATIONS IS 
BANNED, AND COMMERCIAL SATELLITES CAN BE SOLD ONLY UNDER STRICT 
GUIDELINES.
SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WONDER IF LORAL AND HUGHES BROKE THE 
RULES. IN 1996, A LORAL SATELLITE WAS LAUNCHED ON A CHINESE 
ROCKET THAT CRASHED.    IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CRASH, SCIENTISTS
FROM THE TWO COMPANIES WORKED WITH THE CHINESE TO HELP UPGRADE 
THEIR ROCKET GUIDANCE SYSTEM.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW DETERMINING IF THE AMERICANS 
INADVERTENTLY PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT IMPROVED THE RELIABILITY 
OF CHINESE NUCLEAR MISSILES.   CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN CHRISTOPHER 
COX SAYS CONGRESS MUST INVESTIGATE TOO.   HE SPOKE AT A NEWS 
CONFERENCE WITH CHINESE DISSIDENT WANG DAN.
                         ////COX ACT///
         AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THE SAME SORT OF BIPARTISAN 
         ACTION ON THIS AS ON OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE WE HAVE WAVED 
         THE RULES CONCERNING ARMS CONTROL WITH THE PEOPLE'S 
         REPUBLIC OF CHINA'S PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY. 
                         ////END ACT////
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ON CHINA IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN 
RELATIVELY  FREE OF PARTISAN RHETORIC.   BUT THERE IS A POLITICAL
ANGLE TO THE CASE OF THE AMERICAN SATELLITES SOLD TO CHINA.
THE HEAD OF LORAL -- BERNARD SCHWARTZ -- WAS THE SINGLE LARGEST 
DONOR TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN 1996.   REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY 
THIS MAY BE YET ANOTHER ABUSE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS BY THE 
CLINTON WHITE HOUSE.
DURING HIS REGULAR WEEKLY BRIEFING FOR REPORTERS, HOUSE 
REPUBLICAN LEADER RICHARD ARMEY SAID THIS COULD BE A CASE WHERE 
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS ENABLED A CONTRACTOR TO GET PERMISSION TO
SELL TECHNOLOGY TO BEIJING THAT WOULD ENABLE CHINA TO TARGET ITS 
MISSILES AT THE UNITED STATES.  NO DATE FOR THE START OF HEARINGS
IN THE HOUSE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT SEVERAL COMMITTEES ARE 
EXPECTED TO GET INVOLVED.   THE SCIENCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON 
AERONAUTICS IS EXPECTED TO TAKE THE LEAD. IT'S CHAIRED BY ONE OF 
THE PRESIDENT'S BIGGEST CRITICS IN CONGRESS -- REPUBLICAN DANA 
ROHRABACHER OF CALIFORNIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/PT
06-May-98 4:54 PM EDT (2054 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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