DATE=3/18/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42891
TITLE= CHINA SPYING / NUCLEAR
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE STRONGLY CRITICIZED THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION FOR APPARENTLY RESPONDING TOO SLOWLY TO TIGHTEN
SECURITY AT NUCLEAR LABORATORIES, FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS A
SCIENTIST PASSED ON SECRETS TO THE CHINESE. IN THIS REPORT FROM
WASHINGTON, CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA LOOKS AT SOME OF THE
SECURITY ISSUES SURROUNDING U-S NUCLEAR LABS.
TEXT: NUCLEAR SCIENTIST WEN HO LEE WAS FIRED LAST WEEK FROM THE
LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR LABORATORY IN NEW MEXICO. HE IS ACCUSED OF
FAILING TO PROPERLY SAFEGUARD CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND FOR
HAVING CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM A SENSITIVE COUNTRY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER MR. LEE
PROVIDED CHINA WITH INFORMATION ABOUT U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS. MR.
LEE HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE.
THE LEE CASE HAS BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION QUESTIONS
ABOUT SECURITY PROCEDURES AT U-S NUCLEAR LABORATORIES.
PUBLISHER OF THE "BULLETIN OF ATOMIC SCIENTISTS", STEVEN
SCHWARTZ, SAYS THOSE QUESTIONS ARE NOT NEW.
// SCHWARTZ ACT //
THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE GO BACK TO THE
MID-1980'S, IF NOT BEFORE. AND I HAVE GOT A STACK OF
"GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE" DOCUMENTS -- THE
INVESTIGATIVE ARM OF CONGRESS -- GOING BACK TO THE
MID-1980'S. IT IS ABOUT SIX-INCHES HIGH. THEY DOCUMENT
ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE GONE
MISSING, VISITORS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY CLEARED,
CLEARANCES THAT ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY CHECKED, AND
ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS. SO THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE
-- AND IT REALLY POINTS TO A SORT OF SYSTEMIC FLAW IN
THE WAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE WEAPONS
LABORATORIES MANAGE THEIR SECURITY AFFAIRS.
// END ACT //
MR. SCHWARTZ SAYS HE HAS DOCUMENTS INDICATING THAT VISITORS FROM
SENSITIVE COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, ISRAEL, INDIA, AND
PAKISTAN HAVE GONE INTO U-S NUCLEAR LABS WITH MINIMAL IF NO
BACKGROUND CHECKS.
// SECOND SCHWARZ ACT //
SINCE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO VISITED THE LABS HAVE
TURNED OUT APPARENTLY TO BE SPIES WORKING FOR FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY GOT
INFORMATION IS BESIDE THE POINT. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ALLOWED INTO THE LABS. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE
SHOULD SHUT DOWN THE PROGRAM ENTIRELY. THERE IS A LOT
OF GOOD LAB TO LAB COOPERATION GOING ON WITH RUSSIA AND
ALSO WITH CHINA -- AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT WORK
CONTINUE. YOU JUST NEED TO DRAW A BOUNDARY AROUND WHAT
PEOPLE CAN SEE AND WHOM THEY CAN TALK TO.
// END ACT //
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE REJECTED CRITICISMS THEY
WERE TOO SLOW IN REACTING TO REPORTS OF ESPIONAGE BECAUSE OF
THEIR POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE TIGHTENED SECURITY AT VARIOUS NUCLEAR
LABS AND HAVE APPLIED STRICT CONTROLS ON HIGH-TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFERS TO CHINA. THEY HAVE ALSO ASKED CONGRESS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL EIGHT-BILLION DOLLARS FOR A NEW COMPUTER SECURITY
PROGRAM FOR SYSTEMS AT THE NUCLEAR LABS.
ASIAN SECURITY EXPERT MICHAEL O'HANLON, OF THE (WASHINGTON-BASED)
"BROOKINGS INSTITUTION", SAYS ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES CANNOT BE
PREVENTED, EVEN WITH THE MOST SOPHISTICATED SECURITY.
// O'HANLON ACT //
NO-ONE IS SAYING THAT THE CHINESE ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE
SECRET DESIGN LAB. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THAT THEY
HAD ENOUGH CONTACTS WITH FOLKS WHO WORKED THERE, THAT
EVEN AT THE 'SEVEN-ELEVEN' (GROCERY STORE) DOWN THE
STREET, THEY COULD BE TOLD BY PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE
ABOUT THESE BOMB DESIGNS. SO THEY DID NOT HAVE TO
ACTUALLY GET INTO THE TOP-SECRET FACILITIES THEMSELVES.
// END ACT //
MR. O'HANLON SAYS IF THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR
LABORATORY, IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING A CONVERSATION THAT
HAPPENED ANYWHERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/RAE
18-Mar-99 1:54 PM EST (1854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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