Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232446
TITLE=CHINA/ U-S FUNDRAISING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  CHINA HAS DENIED IT WAS INVOLVED IN FUNNELING 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY DURING THE 1996 
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.  CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS FROM
BEIJING, A CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS SUCH 
ALLEGATIONS ARE A FABRICATION AND ARE INTENDED TO FRAME CHINA.
TEXT:  THE ALLEGATIONS REPORTEDLY CAME FROM DEMOCRATIC PARTY 
FUND-RAISER JOHNNY CHUNG.  "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED LAST 
WEEK MR. CHUNG TOLD U-S FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS A LARGE PART OF THE
TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HE GAVE THE DEMOCRATS IN 1996 WAS 
FROM CHINA'S PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY.  THE NEWSPAPER SAID THE 
MONEY WAS GIVEN TO MR. CHUNG BY LIU CHAOYING, A CHINESE AEROSPACE
EXECUTIVE WHO IS THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF CHINA'S TOP GENERALS.
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN 
INTERPRETER-- SAYS CHINA IS INDIGNANT OVER SUCH CHARGES.
                      // INTERPRETER ACT //
 LATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE AND MEDIA WHO ONCE AGAIN 
PLAYED UP THE ALLEGED CHINESE PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL 
FUNDRAISING OF THE U-S ELECTIONS.  THIS WAS PURELY FABRICATED AND
CONSTITUTED AN INTENTIONAL ATTEMPT TO INCRIMINATE AND FRAME UP 
CHINA.  CHINA HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS INDIGNATION.
                         /// END ACT ///
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT SAYS HE WILL SEEK AN 
INVESTIGATION  OF WHETHER THE ALLEGED POLITICAL DONATIONS FROM 
CHINA INFLUENCED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO ALLOW EXPORTS OF
SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA.  THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DENIED ANY 
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE REPORTED CONTRIBUTIONS AND ITS DECISION TO
PERMIT U-S COMPANIES TO LAUNCH THEIR SATELLITES ON CHINESE 
ROCKETS.
CHINESE SPOKESMAN ZHU SAYS CHINA HAS CONSISTENTLY MADE CLEAR IT 
IS OPPOSED TO ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY COUNTRY TO INTERFERE IN OTHER 
COUNTRIES' INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
                     /// INTERPRETER ACT ///
 CHINA'S SYSTEM NEVER ALLOWS CHINA TO INTERFERE INTO OTHER 
COUNTRIES' INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN ANY FORM.  CHINA HAS NEVER DONE 
NOR WILL IT EVER USE MONEY TO INFLUENCE AMERICAN POLITICS.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. ZHU QUOTED A SPOKESMAN FOR CHINA'S NATIONAL SPACE CORPORATION
AS SAYING REPORTS OF PARTICIPATION BY ITS PERSONNEL IN U-S 
POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES ARE GROUNDLESS.  BUT HE EVADED 
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING MS. LIU'S ALLEGED ROLE IN THE AFFAIR
AND WHETHER SHE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
AS FAR AS MR. ZHU IS CONCERNED, THE REPORTS OF CHINESE 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE PART OF A PLOT TO 
UNDERMINE U-S/CHINA RELATIONS A MONTH BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON IS
SLATED TO VISIT CHINA.
                     /// INTERPRETER ACT ///
 IT MUST BE POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THE UNITED 
STATES WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO SEE IMPROVEMENT IN CHINA/U-S 
RELATIONS, AND THEY TRIED EVERY MEANS TO IMPEDE AND UNDERMINE 
THIS PROCESS.  AND THEY EVEN WENT AS FAR AS RESORTING TO RUMORS 
AND LIBEL, BUT THEIR POLITICAL PLOT WILL NEVER GET ANYWHERE.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, SAMUEL BERGER, SAYS 
WASHINGTON BEGAN ALLOWING AMERICAN SATELLITES TO RIDE INTO SPACE 
ABOARD CHINESE ROCKETS BECAUSE U-S LAUNCH CAPACITY IS NOT 
SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/RW/GC/FC/RAE
19-May-98 7:19 AM EDT (1119 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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