DATE=7/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235545
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / SATELLITES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA IS CONTESTING A LEADING U-S SENATOR'S ALLEGATIONS
IT USED AMERICAN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE ITS MILITARY
POWER. CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS BEIJING DID NOT
MENTION REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT BY NAME, BUT
WARNED AGAINST WHAT IT CALLED RUMOR MONGERS WHO ARE TRYING TO
WRECK CHINESE/U-S TIES.
TEXT: CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TANG GUOQIANG
REITERATED BEIJING'S POSITION CHINA CANNOT ACQUIRE U-S MILITARY
TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURSE OF SUPPLYING LAUNCHING SERVICES FOR U-S
SATELLITES. MR. TANG SAYS THE UNITED STATES KNOWS THIS TO BE THE
CASE.
AT A REGULAR BRIEFING (THURSDAY), MR. TANG RESPONDED TO
ASSERTIONS BY SENATOR LOTT THAT CHINA USED SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY
FROM U-S SATELLITE EXPORTS TO ENHANCE ITS MILITARY CAPABILITY.
ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT NAME SENATOR LOTT, THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAID
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER THE ALLEGATIONS ARE MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE
TO HARM WARMING RELATIONS BETWEEN BEIJING AND WASHINGTON.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
A FEW PEOPLE IN THE U-S, IN DISREGARD OF FACTS, FABRICATE RUMORS
OUT OF NOTHING, OUT OF THIN AIR. THEIR MOTIVE IS TO OBSTRUCT AND
UNDERMINE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE CHINA/U-S
RELATIONSHIP. THEIR ATTEMPTS WILL LEAD THEM NOWHERE.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
EARLIER THIS WEEK, MR. TANG SUGGESTED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
SHOULD REIN IN SENATORS WHO APPROVED A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING TAIWAN, AN ACT HE SAID INTERFERED IN CHINA'S INTERNAL
AFFAIRS. THURSDAY, HE MODERATED HIS CRITICISM OF U-S
LEGISLATORS.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
WE HOPE THE CONGRESSMEN IN THE U-S WILL PROCEED FROM THE
FUNDAMENTAL INTERESTS OF THE TWO PEOPLES AND WILL DO SOMETHING
USEFUL FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP, RATHER THAN THE
CONTRARY.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
MR. LOTT SAID U-S SENATE INVESTIGATORS FOUND CHINA HAS RECEIVED
MILITARY BENEFITS FROM U-S SATELLITE EXPORTS. BUT MR. TANG
CALLED CHINESE/U-S COOPERATION ON SATELLITE LAUNCHES A NORMAL
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH COUNTRIES.
SENATOR LOTT DID NOT OFFER ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS OF HOW CHINA HAS
BENEFITED MILITARILY FROM U-S SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY. HIS REMARKS
DREW CRITICISM FROM SENATORS OF THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO DISMISSED MR. LOTT'S CHARGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RBW/FC/RAE
16-Jul-98 6:20 AM EDT (1020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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