Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

      DATE=05/21/98
      TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
    NUMBER=6-10725
     TITLE=CLINTON'S CHINA CONNECTION CONTROVERSY EXPANDS        
    BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
 TELEPHONE=619-3335
  DATELINE=WASHINGTON
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO:  WITH A STATE VISIT TO CHINA ONLY ABOUT A MONTH AWAY, 
PRESIDENT CLINTON IS FACING A GROWING CONTROVERSY OVER PART OF 
HIS POLICY TOWARD CHINA, AND ACCUSATIONS THAT SOME OF IT MAY HAVE
BEEN INFLUENCED BY A CHINESE MILITARY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO 
HIS RE-ELECTION.
THURSDAY, IN WHAT THE "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED A -- BIPARTISAN 
STAMPEDE ON A POLITICALLY EXPLOSIVE ISSUE -- THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUSPEND THE EXPORT OF 
AMERICAN-MADE SATELLITES AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA.  IT IS 
UNCLEAR WHETHER THE SENATE WILL FOLLOW SUIT.  
THE CONTROVERSY HAS ADDED TO THE TROUBLES THE PRESIDENT FACES IN 
DEALING WITH THE URGENT ISSUES OF NEW LEADERSHIP IN INDONESIA, 
AND FALLOUT FROM INDIA'S FIVE RECENT NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.
NEVER SHY, THE PRESS IS BUSY EXPRESSING ITS OWN OPINIONS AS WELL,
ABOUT THE CHINESE ISSUE, AND WE CALL ON _________________  NOW 
FOR A SAMPLING IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.
TEXT:  THERE HAD BEEN RUMORS OF ILLEGAL CHINESE GOVERNMENT 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CLINTON-GORE RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR 
MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER, BUT NO PROOF.  AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST 
YEAR'S SENATE HEARINGS INTO CAMPAIGN FINANCE WRONG-DOING, 
CHAIRMAN FRED THOMPSON CLAIMED THERE WAS A CHINESE CONNECTION, 
BUT THE HEARINGS NEVER PRODUCED SPECIFICS.
THEN LAST WEEK, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED THAT FORMER 
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, AND KEY CLINTON FUND-RAISER, JOHNNY
CHUNG HAD ADMITTED TO JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS, PASSING 
ON A 100-THOUSAND DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION FROM A CHINESE MILITARY 
AEROSPACE AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICER TO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN.  
IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT OTHER, EVEN LARGER DONATIONS, CAME FROM 
TWO AMERICAN FIRMS LAUNCHING PRIVATE, COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES 
ON CHINESE ROCKETS.  THE PRESIDENT GAVE PERMISSION FOR THOSE 
LAUNCHES.  LATER, THE FIRMS, LORAL SPACE AND COMMUNICATIONS AND 
HUGHES ELECTRONICS, GAVE THE CHINESE SECRET U-S INFORMATION TO 
HELP WITH THEIR ROCKET GUIDANCE AFTER ONE OF THE CHINESE "LONG 
MARCH" ROCKETS CRASHED, DESTROYING THE HUGHES SATELLITE ABOARD.  
EARLIER THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT CLINTON APPROVED THAT TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFER ALSO, DESPITE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY THE JUSTICE 
DEPARTMENT OF LORAL FOR MAKING IT. 
WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS IT WAS REVEALED THAT CHINA HAS 
REPOSITIONED MORE THAN A DOZEN INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC 
MISSILES TOWARD U-S TARGETS, AND SOME CONGRESSMEN BELIEVE THE 
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE GUIDANCE INFORMATION AIDED THE CHINESE IN 
IMPROVING THEIR MILITARY MISSILES.
IN NEBRASKA, "THE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD" LINKS THIS LATEST PROBLEM 
OF THE PRESIDENT TO NEWS THAT FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA 
LEWINSKY HAS LOST A COURT APPEAL TO KEEP FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE A
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING AN ALLEGED LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE 
PRESIDENT.
VOICE:   IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT INVESTIGATORS FIND HOW CHINESE 
         MONEY CAME TO BE SOLICITED, DONATED AND ACCEPTED BY THE 
         CLINTON RE-ELECTION MACHINE -- AND THAT THEY EXPLORE THE
         RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE PAYMENTS AND CHANGES IN 
         POLICY THAT BENEFITED THE CONTRIBUTORS.  OF COURSE, IT 
         IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO RESOLVE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER
         THE PRESIDENT MISUSED THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE IN TRYING 
         TO COVER UP RELATIONSHIPS WITH [MS.] LEWINSKY, [PAULA] 
         JONES AND KATHLEEN WILLEY.  AS THINGS STAND, AMERICA HAS
         A WOUNDED PRESIDENT, UNABLE TO EXERT MORAL LEADERSHIP 
         AND, IT OFTEN SEEMS, UNABLE TO GIVE HIS FULL ATTENTION 
         TO DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY. 
TEXT:  "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" MEANWHILE, SAYS THE PRESIDENT 
BEARS FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHATEVER HAPPENED, AS IT CALLS FOR 
AN INVESTIGATION.
VOICE:   IT NOW SEEMS PROBABLE THAT DURING THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL 
         ELECTION, MORE THAN ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND [DOLLARS] WAS 
         FUNNELED BY THE CHINESE MILITARY INTO THE CAMPAIGN ... 
         OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.  FOR THAT SERIOUS 
         BREACH, PRESIDENT CLINTON MUST BEAR FULL POLITICAL 
         RESPONSIBILITY.  AT BEST, HE SET A TONE OF RECKLESS 
         DISREGARD IN THE D-N-C'S FUND-RAISING THAT LEFT IT 
         VULNERABLE TO JUST THIS SORT OF SCANDAL AND 
         MANIPULATION.  AT WORST, HE MAY HAVE ALLOWED POLITICAL 
         DONATIONS TO COLOR HIS DECISIONS ON ISSUES WITH 
         IMPORTANT NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS.  APPOINTMENT 
         OF YET ANOTHER SPECIAL PROSECUTOR SEEMS NECESSARY TO 
         DETERMINE WHERE THE TRUTH LIES.  /// OPT ///  ... AFTER 
         A CHINESE ROCKET EXPLODED ON LAUNCH, DESTROYING AN 
         EXPENSIVE [PRIVATE U-S COMMERCIAL] SATELLITE, 
         [PRESIDENT] CLINTON APPROVED THE TRANSFER OF U-S 
         TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE CHINESE LAUNCHES MORE RELIABLE.  OF 
         COURSE, THOSE SAME, MORE RELIABLE CHINESE ROCKETS CAN 
         ALSO BE USED TO DELIVER NUCLEAR WARHEADS.  /// END OPT 
         ///
TEXT:  COMING TO THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE IS BILL PRESS, A CABLE 
TELEVISION NEWS INTERVIEW PROGRAM CO-HOST, [CNN'S CROSSFIRE] 
WRITING IN "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" WHO SAYS THESE CHARGES ARE 
RIDICULOUS.
VOICE:   FIRST, CONSIDER THE TIMING.  PRESIDENT CLINTON MADE HIS 
         DECISION IN MARCH 1996, ALLOWING TWO AMERICAN FIRMS TO 
         ASSIST CHINA WITH THE LAUNCH OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
         SATELLITES, CONTINUING A POLICY STARTED BY PRESIDENT 
         BUSH.  [JOHNNY] CHUNG DID NOT MEET HIS CHINESE CASH COW 
         -- MILITARY OFFICER AND AEROSPACE EXECUTIVE LIU 
         CHAO-YING -- UNTIL JUNE OF 1996.  HIS CONTRIBUTIONS OF 
         HER MONEY TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE WERE MADE
         IN JULY AND AUGUST 1996.  SUGGESTING THAT CONTRIBUTIONS 
         MADE IN AUGUST INFLUENCED A PRESIDENTIAL DECISION MADE 
         THE PREVIOUS MARCH IS LIKE ACCUSING SOMEONE OF MURDERING
         A PERSON WHO HAD ALREADY DIED A PEACEFUL DEATH FIVE 
         MONTHS EARLIER.  EASY TO CHARGE, IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE... 
         THERE IS ZERO EVIDENCE THAT AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY WAS 
         EVER FOR SALE; ZERO EVIDENCE OF ANY QUID PRO QUO ...
TEXT:  MR. PRESS GOES ON TO NOTE THAT IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE 
CHINESE LEADERS WERE SO NAIVE TO THINK THEY COULD INFLUENCE AN 
AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WITH ONLY 80-THOUSAND DOLLARS.  
THAT IS THE FINAL AMOUNT OF MONEY HE SAYS JOHNNY CHUNG ACTUALLY 
GAVE THE DEMOCRATS FROM HIS CHINESE DONORS, AFTER KEEPING A 
SEIZABLE AMOUNT FOR HIMSELF. 
LASTLY, THIS FROM "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE."  SYNDICATED COLUMNIST 
LINDA CHAVEZ, WHO ONCE WORKED IN THE WHITE HOUSE, OUTLINES ALL 
THE NEGATIVES OF THIS STORY, BEFORE CONCLUDING:
VOICE:   BILL CLINTON HAS LED A CHARMED LIFE, FOOLING MOST OF THE
         PEOPLE -- INCLUDING, I BELIEVE, HIMSELF --  MOST OF THE 
         TIME.  BUT IT CAN NOT GO ON FOREVER.  THE EVIDENCE JUST 
         KEEPS MOUNTING.  BILL CLINTON SEEMS TO HAVE SOLD 
         ADMINISTRATION POLICY TO THE HIGHEST CAMPAIGN 
         CONTRIBUTOR.  AND NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE CONTRIBUTORS 
         INCLUDED COMMUNIST MILITARY OFFICIALS.  ARE AMERICANS 
         WILLING TO SACRIFICE HONEST GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL 
         SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE NATION IN THE NAME OF 
         PRESERVING A STRONG ECONOMY?  ONLY A CONGRESSIONAL 
         IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY CAN FORCE AMERICANS TO ANSWER THIS 
         QUESTION.
TEXT:  ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON THE 
LATEST REVELATIONS REGARDING POTENTIAL ILLEGAL FUND-RAISING 
ACTIVITIES DURING THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, AND SECURITY 
IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE ALLEGED ACTIONS.
NEB/ANG/RAE
21-May-98 2:06 PM EDT (1806 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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