Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232529
TITLE=CONGRESS / CHINA (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS VOTED TO TIGHTEN THE
BAN ON EXPORTS OF SATELLITE AND MISSILE RELATED TECHNOLOGY TO 
CHINA.  UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE PRESIDENT CAN WAIVE THE BAN FOR 
CERTAIN COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS.  BUT AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON 
REPORTS, THE HOUSE SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE WAIVERS TO END.
TEXT:     HOUSE REPUBLICANS TURNED CONSIDERATION OF AN IMPORTANT 
DEFENSE BILL INTO A DEBATE ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S CHINA POLICY.
THEY FOCUSED ON ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING TWO U-S SATELLITE 
MANUFACTURERS WHO MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY PROVIDED CHINA WITH 
INFORMATION THAT COULD BE USED TO BOOST BEIJING'S NUCLEAR MISSILE
PROGRAM.
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN DUNCAN HUNTER SAYS THE CHARGES AGAINST 
THESE AMERICAN CORPORATIONS SHOW JUST HOW RISKY THESE TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFERS CAN BE.
                        ///HUNTER ACT///
         THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS AN INEXTRICABLE LINK 
         BETWEEN THE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE BEEN 
         TRANSFERRING TO CHINA PURSUANT TO OUR SATELLITE LAUNCH 
         PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND THEIR NUCLEAR MISSILE 
         CAPABILITY.
                          ///END ACT//
FOR THE MOST PART, THE DEBATE WAS BUSINESSLIKE --- WITH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS AGREEING ON THE NEED TO CURTAIL TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFERS. BUT FROM TIME TO TIME, THE HOUSE DELIBERATIONS TURNED 
PARTISAN.
SOME REPUBLICANS SAID THE WHOLE PROBLEM IS PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 
FAULT -- THAT HE WAIVED THE BAN ON SATELLITE TRANSFERS IN ORDER 
TO GET CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COMPANY EXECUTIVES.     
REPUBLICAN DAN BURTON -- THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE 
INVESTIGATING CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING ABUSES -- SAID AMERICA'S 
NATIONAL SECURITY MAY HAVE BEEN JEOPARDIZED BY THE PRESIDENT'S 
ACTIONS.
                       ////BURTON ACT////
         WAS IT TREASON?  I DON'T KNOW.  I HOPE NOT.  I DON'T 
         BELIEVE IT WAS. WAS IT INCOMPETENCE?  MAYBE. WAS IT 
         BECAUSE OF GREED FOR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS?  POSSIBLY 
         AND MAYBE LIKELY.
                         ////END ACT////
THE ACCUSATIONS WERE TOO MUCH FOR CONGRESSMAN ROBERT WEXLER.  THE
FLORIDA DEMOCRAT SAID REPUBLICANS HAVE NO RIGHT TO QUESTION BILL 
CLINTON'S LOVE OF COUNTRY.
                       /////WEXLER ACT////
         ....AND FOR MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS TO SUGGEST THAT THE
         PRESIDENT OF  THE UNITED STATES HAS IN SOME WAY 
         ENDANGERED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY WITHOUT A SINGLE SHRED 
         OF EVIDENCE!  IS THERE A SINGLE SHRED OF EVIDENCE THAT 
         SUGGESTS THIS PRESIDENT TOOK THE MONEY, KNEW WHAT HE WAS
         DOING AND THEN SAID SEND THE MISSILES, SEND THE 
         SATELLITE TO BE ON THE MISSILE BECAUSE OF THE MONEY?
                         ///END ACT////
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS WILL BE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE IN THE 
DAYS  TO COME.  HEARINGS INTO THE CONTROVERSIAL TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFERS COULD BEGIN BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TRIP TO CHINA IN
LATE JUNE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAULA/KL
20-May-98 3:49 PM EDT (1949 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.