Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233865
TITLE=U-S SATELLITES / CHINA (S&L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=SPRINGFIELD, OR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AS THE REPUBLICAN-LED CONGRESS INVESTIGATES WHETHER THE 
SALES OF U-S SATELLITES TO FIRMS WITH TIES TO CHINA MAY HAVE 
HARMED U-S NATIONAL SECURITY, CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS 
SAY SUCH SALES MAY END UP BENEFITTING U-S INTELLIGENCE.  V-O-A'S 
DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS TRAVELING WITH MR. CLINTON IN
OREGON SAY CHINA'S USE OF U-S SATELLITES MAY OFFER AMERICAN 
INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT BEIJING'S 
MISSILE PROGRAM.
THE OFFICIALS WERE RESPONDING -- ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY -- TO 
A REPORT IN SATURDAY'S NEW YORK TIMES THAT U-S INTELLIGENCE 
SERVICES HAVE KNOWN FOR TWO YEARS THAT CHINA'S MILITARY HAS BEEN 
USING U-S-MADE SATELLITES SOLD TO CIVILIAN COMPANIES. 
THE NEWSPAPER QUOTES CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE REPORTS SAYING THE 
CHINESE MILITARY USED THE SATELLITES TO TRANSMIT MESSAGES TO ARMY
GARRISONS. 
// OPT // THE UNITED STATES BANNED U-S FIRMS FROM SELLING 
MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO CHINA AFTER THE BLOODY CRACKDOWN ON 
PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS BY CHINESE TROOPS IN TIANANMEN SQUARE
IN 1989. // END OPT //
MR. CLINTON HAS DEFENDED THE SALE OF SATELLITES TO COMPANIES WITH
LINKS TO CHINA BY SAYING THEY ARE ONLY USED FOR CIVILIAN 
PURPOSES.
                             // REST OPT //
MEANWHILE, THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER QUOTES A FORMER TOP 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL SAYING THE U-S MILITARY WANTS THE CHINESE 
MILITARY TO USE U-S-MADE SATELLITES BECAUSE WASHINGTON WOULD BE 
BETTER ABLE TO DECODE BEIJING'S MILITARY MESSAGES.
AIDES TRAVELING WITH MR. CLINTON -- SPEAKING ON BACKGROUND, AS 
THEY DO NOT OFFICIALLY COMMENT ON INTELLIGENCE MATTERS -- DID NOT
DISPUTE THE REPORT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/SD
13-Jun-98 8:11 PM EDT (0011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.