Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232541
TITLE=CLINTON / CHINA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  U-S OFFICIALS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL GO AHEAD WITH A 
SCHEDULED VISIT CHINA NEXT MONTH DESPITE PLANS BY CONGRESSIONAL 
REPUBLICANS TO CONDUCT PROBES INTO EXPORTS OF U-S TECHNOLOGY TO 
BEIJING -- AND THE ROLE OF CHINESE FUNDS IN THE 1996 U-S 
ELECTIONS. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS. 
TEXT:  CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING ON MR. CLINTON TO 
DELAY OR CANCEL HIS TRIP TO CHINA IN LATE JUNE UNTIL NEW 
QUESTIONS ABOUT SATELLITE SALES TO CHINA, AND ILLEGAL CHINESE 
DONATIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TWO YEARS AGO, ARE ANSWERED.
CONGRESSIONAL PANELS PLAN TO PROBE THE TWO ISSUES -- WHETHER A 
KEY DEMOCRATIC PARTY FUNDRAISER PASSED ON TO DEMOCRATS MORE THAN 
100-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A CHINESE ARMY OFFICER, AND WHETHER A 
U-S AEROSPACE FIRM IMPROPERLY WON FAVORABLE TREATMENT FOR 
TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS TO CHINA AS A RESULT OF HUGE CONTRIBUTIONS 
FROM ITS TOP EXECUTIVE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. 
PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING, AND ADMINISTRATION 
OFFICIALS PLEDGE FULL COOPERATION WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE ISSUES WILL NOT HAVE 
ANY IMPACT ON MR. CLINTON'S PLANS TO GO TO CHINA.
                     // MCCURRY ACTUALITY //
         WE ARE GOING THERE FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT THE 
         PRESIDENT HAS  ADDRESSED IN THE PAST -- THE NEED TO 
         FOCUS THIS RELATIONSHIP, WHICH IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE 
         MOST IMPORTANT BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT THE UNITED 
         STATES MAINTAINS WITH ANY COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE 
         EARTH.   WE ARE GOING THERE, DESPITE ALL THE DIFFERENCES
         WE HAVE WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC, TO TRY TO WORK 
         CONSTRUCTIVELY TO IMPROVE THIS RELATIONSHIP WHICH IS SO 
         IMPORTANT TO BILLIONS -- LITERALLY BILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
                         // END ACT //  
MR. CLINTON WILL BE THE FIRST U-S PRESIDENT TO VISIT CHINA SINCE 
THE BLOODY CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS AT BEIJING'S 
TIANANMEN SQUARE NINE YEARS AGO.
THE PRESIDENT IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND SOME
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS -- LIKE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT 
LOTT -- TO AVOID A FORMAL WELCOME AT TIANANMEN SQUARE AS A 
PROTEST OF THE GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.
                      // LOTT ACTUALITY //
         I THINK IT WOULD BE A TRAGIC MISTAKE FOR HIM TO GO TO 
         TIANANMEN SQUARE.
                          // END ACT //
BUT MR. MCCURRY SAYS AVOIDING THE AREA WOULD SEND THE WRONG 
MESSAGE. 
                     // MCCURRY ACTUALITY //
         WE ARE GOING TO CHINA FOR A STATE VISIT.  THEY RECEIVE 
         VISITORS AT TIANANMEN SQUARE.  TO ASK THAT WE NOT BE 
         RECEIVED IN A MANNER IN WHICH WE WOULD NORMALLY BE 
         RECEIVED AT A STATE VISIT WOULD DO SOME  (HARM) 
         VIOLENCE. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK IN A COOPERATIVE WAY TO 
         IMPROVE THIS RELATIONSHIP.  IT WOULD BE AS IF SOMEONE 
         VISITING HERE WOULD SAY 'WE DON'T WANT TO BE GREETED ON 
         THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE,' EVEN THOUGH THAT IS 
         WHERE PEOPLE ARE RECEIVED ON A STATE VISIT.
                          // END ACT //
THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SOUGHT TO DISMISS ANY SUGGESTION THAT 
MR. CLINTON'S APPEARANCE IN TIANANMEN SQUARE WOULD BE SEEN AS 
CONDONING WHAT HAPPENED THERE ON JUNE FOURTH, 1989.
                     // MCCURRY ACTUALITY //
         HE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE SACRIFICE AND SPIRIT OF THE 
         DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT AND THE EVENTS AT TIANANMEN BY 
         PRESSING VERY HARD FOR PROGRESS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS 
         CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
                          // END ACT //
WHILE MR. CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO PRESS THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE 
PRIVATELY WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS, WHITE HOUSE AIDES SAY HE IS 
LOOKING FOR AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PUBLICLY 
DURING HIS TRIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/JO
20-May-98 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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