Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234163
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA SATELLITES (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:    THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS VOTED TO SET UP A 
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA.  
THE PANEL WILL LOOK AT ALLEGATIONS THAT THE CURRENT SATELLITE 
EXPORT POLICY ENDANGERS THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED 
STATES.  WE HAVE MORE ON THE STORY FROM V-O-A CONGRESSIONAL 
CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON.
TEXT:   THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE IS PROMISING A 
BIPARTISAN INVESTIGATION.  REPUBLICAN CHRISTOPHER COX SAYS 
MEMBERS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES WILL WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THE 
TRUTH.
                          ///COX ACT///
         CONSOLIDATING THIS INVESTIGATION INTO A SELECT COMMITTEE
         WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY THE SPEAKER OF THE 
         HOUSE AND BY THE  MINORITY LEADER, WHO ARE EXPERT IN THE
         MATTER, WHO CAN CONSULT COLLEGIALLY WITH ONE ANOTHER, 
         AND WHO CAN MAINTAIN DISCRETION AND CONFIDENTIALITY WILL
         REFLECT CREDIT UPON THIS HOUSE.
                          ///END ACT///
THAT APPROACH PUTS THE COX COMMITTEE IN A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.  OTHER PANELS STAGING INQUIRIES INTO 
ADMINISTRATION POLICIES HAVE BECOME PARTISAN BATTLEGROUNDS.
CONGRESSMAN NORM DICKS -- THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE SPECIAL 
COMMITTEE -- SAYS HE WILL WORK WITH MR. COX TO FOCUS ON POLICY,  
NOT  POLITICS.
                         ///DICKS ACT///
         I BASICALLY SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING.  I THINK THERE ARE
         SERIOUS QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED...AND WE 
         NEED TO HAVE THE FACTS.  
                          ///END ACT///
BUT OTHER DEMOCRATS REMAIN UNCONVINCED.  NANCY PELOSI IS CHINA'S 
BIGGEST CRITIC IN THE LEGISLATURE.  SHE SAYS THE SPECIAL 
COMMITTEE IS PART OF A COORDINATED REPUBLICAN ATTACK ON THE 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.
                        ///PELOSI ACT///
         ESTABLISHING THIS SELECT COMMITTEE, TO ME, AFTER ALL THE
         SWEAT AND STRAIN AND WORK THAT WE HAVE PUT IN TRYING TO 
         EDUCATE CONGRESS TO THE DANGERS OF THE POLICY THAT THE 
         REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS SUPPORTED YEAR IN AND YEAR 
         OUT, [IT] LOOKS TO ME LIKE A CYNICAL AND HYPOCRITICAL 
         ACT WHICH DOES A DISSERVICE TO THE DEBATE ABOUT U-S 
         CHINA POLICY, COSTS THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, AND WASTES 
         CONGRESS' TIME.
                          ///END ACT///
REPUBLICAN PORTER GOSS -- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE -- DENIES ANY POLITICAL OBJECTIVES.  HE SAYS SO FAR, 
THE NEWS MEDIA HAS DONE A BETTER JOB OF GATHERING EVIDENCE THAN 
CONGRESS.
                         ///GOSS ACT///
         EVERY DAY YOU CAN PICK UP THE NEWSPAPER AND READ SOME 
         NEW SAGA UNFOLDING IN THIS AREA.  AND IF THE MEDIA IS 
         AHEAD OF CONGRESS DOING ITS JOB OF OVERSIGHT, WE'VE GOT 
         A PROBLEM.
                          ///END ACT///
JUST HOURS BEFORE THE HOUSE APPROVED THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE, THE 
NEW YORK TIMES -- IN A FRONT PAGE STORY -- SAID THE 
ADMINISTRATION IS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT A DEAL TO SELL 
SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO A CHINESE COMPANY WITH MILITARY TIES.
THE ARTICLE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF DEMOCRAT TOM LANTOS, WHO 
RAISED THE MATTER WHEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS APPEARED ON 
CAPITOL HILL TO TALK ABOUT SATELLITE TRANSFERS.
                        ///LANTOS ACT///
         FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, UNDER MR. BUSH AND WITH MINOR
         CHANGES, THE POLICY HAS BEEN CONTINUED THAT MANY PEOPLE 
         -- AND I READ IN THE NEW YORK TIMES TODAY THAT EVEN THE 
         PENTAGON AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT ARE RAISING QUESTIONS 
         -- WAS CLEARLY THE WRONG POLICY.
                          ///END ACT///
BUT THERE WAS  NO  SIGN OF DISSENSION AMONG THE OFFICIALS SEATED 
BEFORE HIM. THEY OFFERED A COORDINATED DEFENSE OF ADMINISTRATION 
POLICY.  JOHN HOLUM -- THE ACTING UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR 
ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS -- DENIED THE 
CAREFULLY MONITORED TRANSFER OF SATELLITES TO CHINA THREATENS U-S
NATIONAL SECURITY.
                         ///HOLUM ACT///
         WE DO  NOT  BELIEVE THAT THE COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH 
         ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY LICENSES AND 
         MONITORED UNDER THESE PROCEDURES HAVE BENEFITED CHINA'S 
         MISSILE OR MILITARY SATELLITE CAPABILITIES.
                          ///END ACT///
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS PROMISED TO COOPERATE WITH 
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO ITS SATELLITE TRANSFER POLICY. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WDC/GE
18-Jun-98 4:01 PM EDT (2001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.