DATE=3/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246519
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA NUKE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS FACING GROWING POLITICAL
PRESSURE OVER CHINA'S ALLEGED ACQUISITION OF U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS.
V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, CONGRESS IS GEARING UP FOR AN INQUIRY
INTO A NEWLY-EXPOSED ESPIONAGE CONTROVERSY AND OVERALL
CHINESE-AMERICAN RELATIONS.
TEXT: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS BRIEFED
LAWMAKERS (THURSDAY) ON WHAT COULD BE A SPY CASE WITH FAR-
REACHING CONSEQUENCES. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE BEIJING OBTAINED TOP-
SECRET NUCLEAR WARHEAD DATA FROM THE U-S GOVERNMENT WEAPONS LAB
AT LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO. THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT HAS FIRED A
TAIWANESE-BORN SCIENTIST WHO IS CONSIDERED THE PRIME SUSPECT. SO
FAR, HE HAS NOT BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED WITH WRONGDOING.
THOUGH THE TRANSFER REPORTEDLY TOOK PLACE IN THE 1980S, THE WHITE
HOUSE IS UNDER FIRE FOR NOT REACTING FASTER AFTER THE BREACH
BECAME KNOWN. REPUBLICAN SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS, WHO CHAIRS THE
EAST ASIA-PACIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE, SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE
NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE INCIDENT AS THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS.
/// THOMAS ACT ///
IF THERE HAS BEEN THESE THINGS HAPPENING AND THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT SINCE 1995, OR 1997
EVEN, AND HAS NOT DONE SOMETHING AND INDEED SOUGHT TO
COVER IT (UP), THEN THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME REAL
PENALTIES.
/// END ACT ///
THE WHITE HOUSE AND ITS ALLIES SAY THE PROPER STEPS HAVE BEEN
TAKEN AND ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEM APPARENTLY BEGAN
UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN.
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER TOM DASCHLE ARGUES THE BOOKS ON THE CASE
ARE CLOSED. HE REJECTS CALLS BY SOME REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL
CONTENDERS FOR THE OUSTER OF MR. CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISOR, SANDY BERGER.
/// DASCHLE ACT ///
GIVEN THE PRESIDENTIAL NATURE AND THE POLITICAL NATURE
OF THE CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH THESE PEOPLE SAID IT, I
THINK ITS RIDICULOUS. AND I'D SAY "GET REAL."
/// END ACT ///
HOWEVER, THE ISSUE SEEMS LIKELY TO SHADOW U-S CHINESE RELATIONS
AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. PREMIER ZHU RONGJI IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT
WASHINGTON NEXT MONTH. AFTER THAT COMES THE ANNUAL DEBATE ON
RENEWING BEIJING'S TRADE BENEFITS.
THE TIES LATELY HAVE BEEN STRAINED BY CHINA'S MISSILE DEPLOYMENTS
NEAR TAIWAN AND ITS WARNING TO WASHINGTON NOT TO HELP THE ISLAND
WITH COUNTERMEASURES. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
SAYS THE LOSS OF SECRETS MAKES THOSE MEASURES ALL THE MORE VITAL.
/// ROHRABACHER ACT ///
TODAY WE SEE A BUILDUP OF COMMUNIST CHINESE ROCKETS. AND
UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THOSE ROCKETS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED
BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY. IT BEHOOVES ALL OF US THEN, IF
WE WANT TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND THE EQUILIBRIUM THAT WE'VE
HAD FOR 20 YEARS IN THE TAIWAN STRAITS AND THE PACIFIC,
TO PROVIDE TAIWAN A DEFENSIVE SYSTEM.
/// END ACT ///
THE SENATE BEGINS A ROUND OF HEARINGS ON THE MATTER NEXT WEEK.
MEANWHILE, CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ARE AT ODDS OVER HOW MUCH
INFORMATION ON THE SENSITIVE CASE CAN BE MADE PUBLIC. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/JO
11-Mar-99 3:15 PM EST (2015 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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