Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233313
TITLE=SENATE CHINA ONITER (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE (THURSDAY) IS STARTING ITS INQUIRY INTO 
WHAT REPUBLICANS CALL A SUSPICIOUS ROUND OF EXPORTS AND 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAS SUMMONED C-I-A 
DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET TO A CLOSED-DOOR SESSION.  LAWMAKERS WANT 
TO KNOW IF NATIONAL SECURITY WAS COMPROMISED BY DEALINGS BETWEEN 
CHINA AND AMERICAN AEROSPACE CORPORATIONS, WHICH THE WHITE HOUSE 
APPROVED.
CRITICS SAY THE COMPANIES TRANSFERRED SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT 
HELPED BEIJING IMPROVE MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS AFTER A FAILED 
SATELLITE LAUNCH.  THIS YEAR THE PRESIDENT ALLOWED ANOTHER U-S 
SATELLITE TO FLY ON A CHINESE ROCKET, EVEN THOUGH THE JUSTICE 
DEPARTMENT WAS IN THE MIDST OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE 
CASE.  THE HEAD OF THE FIRM INVOLVED, THE LORAL CORPORATION, WAS 
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S BIGGEST SINGLE DONOR IN THE LAST ELECTION.
THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUES THE DEAL WAS ROUTINE AND CONSISTENT 
WITH LONGSTANDING POLICY.  SENATOR BOB KERREY, THE RANKING 
DEMOCRAT ON THE INTELLIGENCE PANEL, SAYS IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL 
IF THE TRANSFERS PUT THE UNITED STATES AT RISK.
                          /// KERREY ACT ///
         I CAN NOT CONCLUDE THAT TODAY.  WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE 
         THAT.  I THINK IT'S A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION AND THERE'S 
         SOME INDICATION THAT ITS POSSIBLE. BUT THERE'S NO 
         INDICATION BY THE WAY THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, 
         THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, DIDN'T REGARD THOSE 
         TRANSFERS VERY SERIOUSLY.
                           /// END ACT ///
HOWEVER, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS ALREADY VOTED TO BAN 
FUTURE SATELLITE EXPORTS TO CHINA.  SOME REPUBLICANS SAY THE 
AFFAIR COULD ALSO HURT THE CHANCES FOR RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MOST- 
FAVORED-NATION TRADE BENEFITS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/JO
03-Jun-98 5:24 PM EDT (2124 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.