DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243907
TITLE=CHINA-TECHNOLOGY THEFTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINESE OFFICIALS IN BEIJING AND WASHINGTON HAVE REPEATED
DENIALS THAT CHINA HAS TRIED TO ACQUIRE SENSITIVE AMERICAN
WEAPONS AND ROCKET TECHNOLOGY. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER REPORTS FROM
WASHINGTON, THE CHINESE EMBASSY CAUTIONS THAT SUCH ALLEGATIONS
COULD HARM BILATERAL TRADE.
TEXT: IN BEIJING, A FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN CALLED A U-S
CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON ALLEGED CHINESE EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE
SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY "IRRESPONSIBLE," AND SAID CONGRESSMEN WHO
MAKE SUCH CHARGES ARE OBSESSED WITH A COLD WAR MENTALITY.
THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN WAS REFERRING TO A 700-PAGE CONGRESSIONAL
REPORT THAT REPORTEDLY CONCLUDES HE CHINESE HAVE STOLEN SOME OF
AMERICA'S MOST SENSITIVE MILITARY INFORMATION OVER A 20-YEAR
PERIOD. THE COMMITTEE REPORT WAS SPARKED BY ALLEGATIONS THAT
CHINA HAS GOTTEN AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY BY LAUNCHING SATELLITES FOR
U-S COMPANIES.
THE REPORT HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC, BUT REPRESENTATIVE
CHRISTOPHER COX, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, SAYS THERE WAS
NATIONAL SECURITY HARM TO AMERICA FROM THE TECHNOLOGY
ACQUISITIONS.
HERE IN WASHINGTON, THE CHINESE EMBASSY HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO
REFUTE WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE REPORT.
MINISTER COUNSELOR HE YAFEI BASICALLY ARGUED THAT CHINA HAS
DEVELOPED MISSILE AND NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY ON ITS OWN, AND SO
DOESN'T NEED TO STEAL U-S SECRETS. HE CAUTIONED THAT THE COX
REPORT COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY SALES
TO CHINA.
/// HE ACT ///
THE ATMOSPHERE IS CERTAINLY NOT GOOD NOW. THE COX
REPORT HAS HAD CERTAIN EFFECTS. THE SATELLITE
MANUFACTURERS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE RATHER MORE TIMID
NOW.
/// END ACT ///
MR. HE DESCRIBED HIS COMMENTS AS PRELIMINARY, AND SAID CHINA WILL
HAVE MORE TO SAY WHEN THE COX REPORT IS MADE PUBLIC.
/// REST OPT ///
IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (NEWSPAPER)
REPORTED THURSDAY THAT IN THE MID-1980'S, CHINA GOT DESIGN
INFORMATION ON AN ADVANCED AMERICAN NUCLEAR WARHEAD FROM A
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LABORATORY.
A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICIAL DID NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY ON THE
NEWSPAPER REPORT, BUT SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN MEASURES TO
ENSURE WHAT HE CALLS A STRONG COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE PROGRAM.
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR EDWARD CURRAN SAYS THE ENERGY
DEPARTMENT WILL ALWAYS BE A TARGET FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
SERVICES, BECAUSE OF ITS ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WTW
07-Jan-99 4:00 PM EST (2100 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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