Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232487
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:    REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
ARE SETTING UP A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TRANSFERS OF 
ADVANCED AMERICAN SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA.  V-O-A'S PAULA 
WOLFSON REPORTS THE COMMITTEE WILL MOST LIKELY BEGIN ITS WORK 
NEXT MONTH OVER STRONG OBJECTIONS FROM CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS.
TEXT:    HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH SAYS ALLEGATIONS RAISED IN 
RECENT DAYS ARE VERY TROUBLING...AND CONGRESS MUST TAKE ACTION.
                       ////GINGRICH ACT///
         I THINK THAT IT IS SO CLEAR FROM THE PRESS REPORTS OF 
         THE LAST WEEK OR SO THAT VERY STARK QUESTIONS OF 
         NATIONAL SECURITY RELATING TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, TO 
         MISSILE TECHNOLOGY, TO THE CHINESE MILITARY'S EFFORT TO 
         PENETRATE THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM -- THESE ARE SO 
         SERIOUS THEY REQUIRE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO GET AT 
         THE FACTS IMMEDIATELY.
                         ////END ACT////
MR. GINGRICH SAYS HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH AN EIGHT-MEMBER SELECT 
COMMITTEE WITH CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN CHRISTOPHER COX AT THE HELM.
MR. COX IS A LONG TIME CRITIC OF CHINA, AND THE AUTHOR OF A 
PACKAGE  OF BILLS THAT CLEARED THE HOUSE LAST YEAR DESIGNED TO 
PUT PRESSURE ON THE BEIJING GOVERNMENT.
THE SPEAKER'S PLAN MUST STILL BE APPROVED BY THE FULL HOUSE. 
DEMOCRATS HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL OPPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 
SPECIAL PANEL -- CITING THE NUMEROUS INVESTIGATIONS OF THE 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ALREADY UNDERWAY ON CAPITOL HILL.   MR. 
GINGRICH SUGGESTS THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST THE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE 
A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO.
                       ////GINGRICH ACT///
         I THINK THE COUNTRY WILL BE VERY CURIOUS AS TO WHY 
         DEMOCRATS WOULD NOT WANT TO KNOW IF THE CHINESE WERE 
         GETTING MILITARY SECRETS, IF THE WHITE HOUSE WAS 
         OVERRULING THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEFENSE 
         DEPARTMENT AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND IF THE 
         CHINESE MILITARY WAS TRYING TO FINANCIALLY INFLUENCE THE
         AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM.
                         ////END ACT////
THE COMMITTEE -- WHICH WILL BE MADE UP OF FIVE REPUBLICANS AND 
THREE DEMOCRATS -- WILL MOVE ITS INQUIRY ON TWO FRONTS.  IT WILL 
SCRUTINIZE THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO GIVE TWO AMERICAN 
AEROSPACE COMPANIES PERMISSION TO SELL COMMERCIAL SATELLITES TO 
CHINA.  AND IT WILL LOOK AT THE CASE OF JOHNNY CHUNG -- A FORMER 
FUNDRAISER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH CONNECTIONS IN THE 
CHINESE MILITARY
                       ///  REST OPT /// 
THE NEW COMMITTEE GIVES THE REPUBLICANS A BIG OPPORTUNITY.  THE 
CURRENT INVESTIGATION INTO CAMPAIGN FINANCE ABUSES IS IN TROUBLE.
IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE AND THE CHAIRMAN -- DAN BURTON OF 
INDIANA -- HAS PROVEN HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL. 
SPEAKER GINGRICH SAYS THE SELECT PANEL WILL FOCUS ON NATIONAL 
SECURITY, NOT CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING.  HE SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO 
BACK DAN BURTON.  BUT  HE IS ALREADY COMPARING CHRISTOPHER COX TO
THE LATE SAM IRVIN -- THE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR WHO LED THE 
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON.(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
19-May-98 8:32 PM EDT (0032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.