Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232248
TITLE=U-S CHINA / INDIA NUKE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=WILLIAM KAUFMANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTING QUICKLY BECAME A MAJOR PART OF A 
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON CHINA TRADE POLICY THURSDAY.  AS V-O-A'S
WILLIAM KAUFMANN REPORTS THE HEARING HEARD NUMEROUS CHARGES THAT 
CHINA HAS NOT LIVED UP TO ITS COMMITMENTS TO NUCLEAR 
NON-PROLIFERATION.  
TEXT:  THE MOST DETAILED TESTIMONY CAME FROM NUCLEAR CONTROL 
INSTITUTE PRESIDENT PAUL LEVENTHAL.
HIS ALLEGATION THAT CHINA HAD HELPED PAKISTAN OPEN ITS FIRST 
MILITARY REACTOR LAST MONTH PROMPTED A QUESTION FROM HOUSE 
COMMERCE SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN W-J TAUZIN.  
                  // TAUZIN / LEVENTHAL ACT ///
         ARE YOU TELLING US THAT THE START-UP OF THE FACILITY IN 
         PAKISTAN MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THE INDIAN 
         DECISION TO UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TEST ?  IT WOULD HAVE NO
         DOUBT BEEN A FACTOR, ESPECIALLY IF INDIA PERCEIVED THAT 
         THE U-S WAS COOPERATING WITH CHINA.
                          // END ACT //
REPUBLICAN CHRISTOPHER COX OF CALIFORNIA SAYS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 
EASY FOR INDIA TO DRAW THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION WAS LOOKING THE OTHER WAY IN REGARD TO CHINA'S 
RECORD REGARDING SUCH WEAPONS. 
                         /// COX ACT ///
         BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WILLING TO WAIVE SANCTIONS IN OUR 
         LAW RELATING TO WEAPONS PROLIFERATION WE NOW FIND AN 
         INDIA WHICH IS CONCERNED ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAT 
         CHINA HAS STATIONED ON THE SOIL OF TIBET POINTED AT 
         INDIA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND DECIDES THAT IT HAS TO PRESS 
         FORWARD IN THIS WAY. 
                          // END ACT //
REPUBLICAN CLIFF STEARNS OF FLORIDA SAID HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE
50-BILLION DOLLAR U-S TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA MAY BE HELPING TO 
FUEL AN ARMS RACE. 
                       /// STEARNS ACT ///
         NOT ONLY IS CHINA PURCHASING MILITARY HARDWARE, 
         ESPECIALLY NAVAL WEAPONRY FROM NATIONS LIKE RUSSIA, THEY
         ARE SPENDING A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY PERFECTING THEIR 
         OWN WEAPONRY, INCLUDING GUIDED MISSILES.  SO IN EFFECT, 
         YOU'D ALMOST SAY THIS TRADE IMBALANCE IS WORKING TO OUR 
         DISADVANTAGE AND TO CHINA'S ADVANTAGE TO BECOME A 
         DOMINANT ASIA POWER. 
                          // END ACT //
DEMOCRAT EDWARD MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS EXPRESSED ASTONISHMENT 
THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON -- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER -- CERTIFIED 
THE 1985 U-S CHINA NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT,     IGNORING, 
WHAT MR. MARKEY SAID WAS CHINA'S LONG HISTORY OF 
NON-PROLIFERATION VIOLATIONS. 
                        // MARKEY ACT ///
         CHINA HAS CONTINUALLY ASSURED THE U-S THAT IT WOULD STOP
         PROVIDING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES TO 
         COUNTRIES SUCH AS IRAN AND PAKISTAN.  CHINA HAS 
         CONTINUALLY FAILED TO LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES. BEFORE 
         IMPLEMENTING THE 1985 AGREEMENT WE NEED TO BE CERTAIN 
         THAT THIS TIME THE PROMISES ARE FOR REAL. 
                          // END ACT //
MR. MARKEY SAYS THE CERTIFICATION WILL ALLOW U-S COMPANIES TO 
START SELLING REACTORS AND FUEL TO CHINA, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO 
BUY 50-BILLION DOLLARS IN SUCH GOODS IN COMING YEARS.  (SIGNED). 
NEB/WJK/PT
14-May-98 8:01 PM EDT (0001 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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