DATE=2/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245876
TITLE=U-S / CHINA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS CANCELED THE SALE OF A COMMERCIAL
SATELLITE TO CHINA, BECAUSE OF FEARS THE CHINESE MILITARY COULD
BENEFIT FROM THE TECHNOLOGY. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AMID REPORTS
CHINA HAS BEEN SHARING SPACE TECHNOLOGY WITH NORTH KOREA. IT
ALSO COMES JUST DAY'S BEFORE SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT
IS DUE TO VISIT BEIJING. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE
KING HAS MORE.
TEXT: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT CANCELED THE COMMERCIAL SATELLITE
DEAL WITH CHINA FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS.
THE HUGHES ELECTRONICS COMPANY HAD HOPED TO SELL THE 450-MILLION
DOLLAR COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE TO A CHINESE CONSORTIUM. THE
CONSORTIUM, CALLED ASIA PACIFIC MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS,
INTENDED TO USE THE SATELLITE TO SET UP A MOBILE TELEPHONE
SERVICE.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE DEAL WAS CALLED
OFF BECAUSE THE CHINESE MILITARY HAD BECOME INVOLVED IN THE
PROJECT.
/// FOLEY ACT ///
OUR POLICY IS TO SUPPORT CIVILIAN LAUNCHING OF U-S SATELLITES ON
CHINESE ROCKETS BUT NOT FOR MILITARY PURPOSES OR FOR MILITARY
CONCERNS.
/// END ACT ///
THE CANCELLATION OF THE HUGHES SATELLITE DEAL ALSO COMES AMID
REPORTS THAT CHINA HAS BEEN SHARING SPACE TECHNOLOGY WITH NORTH
KOREA.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES NEWSPAPER SAYS THE COOPERATION WAS UNCOVERED
LAST YEAR IN SENSITIVE U-S INTELLIGENCE REPORTS. THE NEWSPAPER
SAYS OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED THAT MILITARILY USEFUL U-S SATELLITE
TECHNOLOGY -- ACQUIRED IMPROPERLY BY CHINA IN 1995 AND 1996 --
MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH NORTH KOREA.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS CHINA HAS GIVEN THE
UNITED STATES ASSURANCES THAT IT IS NOT PROVIDING SUCH
ASSISTANCE.
/// LOCKHART ACT ///
U-S AND CHINA SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE
DEVELOPMENT. CHINA SUPPORTS OUR EFFORTS TO RESTRAIN NORTH KOREA
FROM CONDUCTING FURTHER MISSILE AND SATELLITE LAUNCHES. CHINA
ALSO RECOGNIZES, AS WE DO, FURTHER LAUNCHES WILL DESTABILIZE THE
REGION. CHINA HAS GIVEN US ASSURANCES THAT THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE TO THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE PROGRAM.
/// END ACT ///
DESPITE WHITE HOUSE ASSURANCES, FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO CHINA,
JAMES LILLEY, SAYS CONCERNS ABOUT CHINESE ASSISTANCE TO NORTH
KOREA DATE BACK TO THE EARLY 1990'S.
/// LILLEY ACT ///
AND I THINK THAT HAS UPSET PEOPLE. THIS REPORT IS NOT REALLY
CONFIRMED YET, BUT IT FALLS INTO A PATTERN OF CHINESE
PROLIFERATION. AND IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE
IT MIGHT HAVE SOME SUBSTANCE TO IT, IT WOULD BE QUITE DAMAGING,
BECAUSE WE HAVE FELT THAT THE CHINESE ARE TRYING TO BLOCK THE
NORTH KOREANS FROM MAKING ANOTHER MISSILE SHOT.
/// END ACT ///
CHINA HAD NO IMMEDIATE REACTION RESPONSE TO REPORTS OF ITS
ALLEGED COOPERATION WITH NORTH KOREA OR THE CANCELLATION OF THE
U-S SATELLITE DEAL.
BUT THE SUBJECT OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS AND MISSILE PROLIFERATION
ARE EXPECTED TO COME UP NEXT WEEK WHEN SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT CHINA. MS. ALBRIGHT IS
DUE TO HOLD TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS THIS COMING MONDAY AND
TUESDAY (MARCH 1ST & 2ND). (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WDC/JO
23-Feb-99 5:48 PM EST (2248 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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