Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-231883
TITLE=U-S / CHINA MISSILES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A SENIOR PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAYS THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS  
NO  EVIDENCE AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO 
CHINESE LONG RANGE MISSILES.   V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT DAVID DYAR 
REPORTS UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE WALTER SLOCOMBE DISCUSSED THE 
SENSITIVE ISSUE AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING THURSDAY.
TEXT:  THE PENTAGON OFFICIAL WAS CONFRONTED WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT 
CHINESE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY BY CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER.
THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATOR IS HEADING A CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S POLICY ON THE 
EXPORT OF COMMERCIAL SATELLITES HAS ALLOWED THE CHINESE TO 
IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF THEIR NUCLEAR MISSILES.
THE TWO MEN GOT INTO A HEATED EXCHANGE DURING THE HEARING WHEN 
MR. ROHRABACHER INTERRUPTED MR. SLOCOMBE AS HE WAS TRYING TO 
ANSWER A QUESTION ON THE CAPABILITIES OF CHINESE MISSILES.
                /// SLOCOMBE - ROHRABACHER CUT /// 
         (SLOCOMBE): THE ICBMS (INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC 
         MISSILES) THAT ARE NOW DEPLOYED ARE TO THE BEST OF OUR 
         KNOWLEDGE, AND WE THINK WE KNOW, THE SAME THAT WAS 
         DEPLOYED FIVE YEARS AGO.... (ROHRABACHER):  BOY, YOU 
         JUST UTTERED SO MANY WEASEL WORDS (WORDS TO AVOID A 
         DIRECT COMMENT), I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHOULD FINISH YOUR 
         STATEMENT OR NOT, BECAUSE IT IS MEANINGLESS.  THERE IS 
         ABOUT 20 WEASEL WORDS THERE.  (SLOCOMBE): SIR! WOULD YOU
         LET ME FINISH MY STATEMENT?  (ROHRABACHER): IF YOU WILL 
         ANSWER THE STATEMENT DIRECTLY, YOU CAN FINISH IT.
                         /// END CUT ///
THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE TWO OFFICIALS STEMMED FROM REPORTS 
THAT AN AMERICAN SATELLITE COMPANY, LORAL, HAD GIVEN CHINA 
SENSITIVE SATELLITE GUIDANCE INFORMATION IN 1996 IN VIOLATION OF 
U-S EXPORT LAWS.
THE LORAL COMPANY AND ANOTHER U-S AEROSPACE FIRM, HUGHES 
ELECTRONIC CORPORATION, DENY ANY WRONGDOING.  BUT THE JUSTICE 
DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
INCIDENT, WHICH STEMMED FROM CHINA'S SATELLITE LAUNCHING CONTRACT
WITH THE TWO COMPANIES.
MR. SLOCOMBE WAS ASKED AT THE HEARING IF ANY U-S TECHNOLOGY WOUND
UP IN CHINESE NUCLEAR MISSILES.
                      /// SLOCOMBE CUT ///
         THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY HAS 
         BEEN INCORPORATED INTO CHINESE ICBMS.  THERE HAVE 
         CERTAINLY BEEN CHARGES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TRANSFERS OF
         AMERICAN MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.
                         /// END CUT ///
CHINA HAS PREVIOUSLY DENIED THAT ITS CONTACTS WITH THE TWO U-S 
FIRMS RESULTED IN ANY IMPROPER TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD 
BE USED FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.
A SERIES OF CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED IN THE NEXT FEW 
WEEK TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE.  (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
NEB/DWD/
07-May-98 6:01 PM EDT (2201 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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