DATE=2/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245938
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / SATELLITE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA IS PROTESTING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION
TO CANCEL THE SALE OF A U-S SATELLITE TO A CHINESE-LED
CONSORTIUM, SAYING WASHINGTON'S MOVE WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT
ON SINO-AMERICAN TIES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS
BEIJING IS ASKING U-S OFFICIALS TO RECONSIDER WHAT THEY DESCRIBE
AS AN ERRONEOUS DECISION.
TEXT: THE AMERICAN DECISION TO CANCEL THE 450-MILLION DOLLAR
SATELLITE DEAL -- AND CHINA'S NEGATIVE REACTION TO THAT DECISION
-- COMES DAYS BEFORE U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IS
DUE TO ARRIVE IN BEIJING.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION REFERRED TO SECURITY CONCERNS IN
REJECTING THE DEAL BETWEEN AMERICA'S HUGHES SPACE AND
COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND A MULTINATIONAL CONSORTIUM CALLED
ASIA-PACIFIC MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY. U-S OFFICIALS
SAY THE DEAL WAS BLOCKED BECAUSE OF FEARS THAT SENSITIVE U-S
TECHNOLOGY MIGHT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE CHINESE MILITARY.
CHINA CONTROLS 51 PER CENT OF THE CONSORTIUM.
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN ZHANG QIYUE --SPEAKING
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER-- EXPRESSED BEIJING'S ANNOYANCE AT THE U-S
DECISION.
//INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//
WITH REGARD TO THE DECISION BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT REJECTING AN
EXPORT LICENSE TO ASIA PACIFIC MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE WITH THE EXCUSE OF NATIONAL SECURITY, WE EXPRESS OUR
STRONG DISSATISFACTION.
//END ACTUALITY//
EARLIER THURSDAY, MS. ZHANG WAS QUOTED BY CHINA'S OFFICIAL XINHUA
NEWS AGENCY AS SAYING CHINA STRONGLY RESENTS THE U-S MOVE. SHE
DID NOT SAY WHAT ACTIONS BEIJING WILL TAKE. BUT SHE CALLED U-S
SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE DEAL GROUNDLESS AND INDICATED THE DECISION
WILL FURTHER SOUR ALREADY STRAINED TIES BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND
BEIJING.
//INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//
THIS DECISION BY THE UNITED STATES IS ENTIRELY UNJUSTIFIABLE.
IT WILL ONLY HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NORMAL ECONOMIC AND
TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AND COOPERATION BETWEEN
THE TWO SIDES. WE ASK THE U-S TO CORRECT ITS ERRONEOUS DECISION.
//END ACTUALITY//
MS. ZHANG SAYS THE PURCHASE OF THE SATELLITE WAS INTENDED FOR
CIVILIAN MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AND WAS A NORMAL BUSINESS
TRANSACTION IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH CHINA AND THE UNITED
STATES. ALTHOUGH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ORIGINALLY APPROVED
THE SALE IN 1996, U-S DIPLOMATS SAID WASHINGTON RECONSIDERED
THE DEAL AFTER LEARNING THAT FIRMS WITH TIES TO CHINA'S MILITARY
HAD JOINED THE CONSORTIUM. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/GC/FC/PLM
25-Feb-99 5:35 AM EST (1035 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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