DATE=11/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241787
TITLE=CHINA / SATELLITE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINESE AEROSPACE OFFICIALS DENY U-S CONGRESSIONAL
CHARGES THAT CHINA OBTAINED SENSITIVE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FROM
U-S FIRMS. AS VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE
CHINESE OFFICIALS URGED WASHINGTON TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR RESUMING
NORMAL COMMERCIAL TIES IN THE AEROSPACE SECTOR.
TEXT: U-S LAWMAKERS ARE CONDUCTING SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO
WHETHER U-S FIRMS ILLEGALLY TRANSFERRED SENSITIVE MISSILE
TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA.
MOST OF THE ATTENTION HAS FOCUSED ON HUGHES ELECTRONICS
CORPORATION AND LORAL SPACE COMMUNICATIONS. BOTH U-S COMPANIES
ARE CHARGED WITH PROVIDING CHINA WITH DATA THAT COMPROMISES U-S
SECURITY.
BOTH COMPANIES HAVE DENIED ANY WRONGDOING, AND BEIJING HAS
REPEATEDLY CHARACTERIZED THE ACCUSATIONS AS GROUNDLESS AND
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
THE STATE-RUN CHINA DAILY NEWSPAPER TUESDAY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A
MAJOR AEROSPACE FAIR IN SOUTHERN CHINA TO REPEAT THOSE DENIALS.
THE DIRECTOR OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CHINA AEROSPACE
CORPORATION, XU FUXIANG, IS QUOTED AS SAYING CHINA HAS IN NO WAY
RECEIVED ANY SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FROM ITS U-S COUNTERPARTS.
THE CHINA AEROSPACE CORPORATION VICE-PRESIDENT, WANG LIHENG, IS
QUOTED AS EXPRESSING HOPE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL CONCLUDE
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THESE MATTERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MR. WANG
SAID HE HOPES THE RESULTS WILL BENEFIT U-S SATELLITE
MANUFACTURERS AND OPERATORS, AS WELL AS CHINESE LAUNCH SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
A CHINESE LONG MARCH ROCKET CARRYING A LORAL SATELLITE EXPLODED
IN 1996 AND ANOTHER ONE CARRYING A HUGHES SATELLITE CRASHED IN
1995. FOLLOWING THESE TWO LAUNCH FAILURES, THE CHINESE AEROSPACE
INDUSTRY WORKED TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF ITS ROCKETS.
CHINA IS PROMOTING ITSELF AS A LESS-EXPENSIVE SATELLITE LAUNCHING
ALTERNATIVE TO THE UNITED STATES OR EUROPE. SO FAR, LONG MARCH
ROCKETS HAVE LAUNCHED 23 COMMERCIAL SATELLITES INTO SPACE FOR
FOREIGN CUSTOMERS.
CHINA AEROSPACE CORPORATION OFFICIALS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING SIX
MORE LAUNCHES -- INCLUDING THREE COMMERCIAL ONES -- ARE SCHEDULED
FOR THE NEXT YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
17-Nov-98 5:01 AM EST (1001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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