DATE=03/17/99
TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
NUMBER=6-11194
TITLE=WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: THE U-S PRESS CONTINUES TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ALLEGATIONS
OF CHINESE ESPIONAGE TARGETING THE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM,
AND HOW CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE HANDLING THIS ALLEGED
SECURITY BREACH.
NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER
LOOK, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.
TEXT: ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS CALLING FOR A CRITICAL REASSESSMENT
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA IN LIGHT OF THE LATEST SPYING
ALLEGATIONS IS "THE MIAMI HERALD."
VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON NOW IS PLAYING 'CATCH UP' WITH
CONGRESS IN HIS EFFORTS TO CONTAIN A DEVELOPING
NATIONAL-SECURITY SCANDAL AND DEFEND HIS POLICY OF
'ENGAGEMENT' WITH CHINA. /// OPT ///... THE UNITED
STATES WON'T RETAIN ITS PREEMINENCE AS A SUPERPOWER IF
NATIONAL-SECURITY CONCERNS DON'T RISE TO TAKE PRECEDENCE
OVER TRADE POLICIES AND WASHINGTON'S YEAR-ROUND DASH FOR
CASH TO FINANCE ELECTIONS. /// END OPT /// CHINA
ASPIRES TO SUPERPOWER STATUS ...[PURSUING] ITS NATIONAL
INTERESTS WITH A STEADFASTNESS UNMATCHED BY THE WHITE
HOUSE OR [THE] STATE DEPARTMENT ...THOUGH THIS SCANDAL
SPANS THREE ADMINISTRATIONS, IT IS THE CLINTON WHITE
HOUSE THAT FAILED TO HEED DIRECT WARNINGS IN 1997 AND
TAKE ACTION BEFORE FORCED TO DO SO.
TEXT: BUT TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS WHILE THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF
NUCLEAR WARHEAD TECHNOLOGY IS SERIOUS, REPUBLICANS, AND EVEN SOME
DEMOCRATS, IN CONGRESS ARE UNWISELY EXAGGERATING THE ISSUE.
VOICE: ABSURDITY IS INTERTWINED WITH NONSENSE IN THESE
FLAMBOYANT POSTURINGS. IF IT IS IN AMERICA'S INTEREST
FOR BEIJING TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE FREE-TRADE PROVISIONS
OF THE W-T-O [WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION] THAT INTENT
SHOULD NOT BE THWARTED BECAUSE SECURITY WAS LAX DURING
THE 1980S AT LOS ALAMOS (NEW MEXICO NUCLEAR LABORATORY.
/// OPT /// AS [FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE DURING THE
NIXON YEARS] HENRY KISSINGER HAS SAID, IF CHINA STOLE
U-S DESIGNS TO MINIATURIZE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, THAT IS OUR
FAULT, NOT THEIRS. ... CHINA SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED FROM
THREATENING TAIWAN AND ENCOURAGED TO RESPECT HUMAN
RIGHTS IN CHINA AND PERMIT AUTONOMY IN TIBET. BUT ///
END OPT /// THE LAST THING THAT WASHINGTON SHOULD WANT
IS TO FABRICATE A CHINA THREAT THAT METAMORPHOSES INTO A
SELF-FULLFILLING PROPHECY.
TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM
SOME OF WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS ON THIS ST. PATRICK'S DAY, HONORING
IRELAND'S PATRON SAINT.
NEB/ANG/GE
17-Mar-99 11:18 AM EST (1618 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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