DATE=3/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246838
TITLE=CHINA DENIES NUKE THEFT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CHINESE DIPLOMAT IN WASHINGTON HAS REPEATED BEIJING'S
CATEGORICAL DENIAL IT STOLE NUCLEAR SECRETS FROM THE UNITED
STATES. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS, MINISTER COUNSELOR HE
YAFEI BLAMES WHAT HE TERMS A COLD-WAR MENTALITY FOR THE
ACCUSATIONS.
TEXT: A DEBATE IS UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON ABOUT REPORTS A
LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE AT A U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS RESEARCH LABORATORY
GAVE CRITICAL SECRETS TO CHINA OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS. THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR WHAT CRITICS SAY
IS ITS SLOWNESS TO CORRECT SECURITY FAILINGS AT THE SENSITIVE
LABORATORIES.
ADMINISTRATION DEFENDERS SAY SECURITY PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN
STRENGTHENED IN THE WAKE OF ALLEGATIONS A CHINESE-AMERICAN
SCIENTIST PASSED SECRETS TO CHINA THAT HELPED IT DEVELOP SMALLER
NUCLEAR WARHEADS FOR INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES.
CHINA HAS DENIED THE BASIS FOR THE ENTIRE CONTROVERSY. FIRST
PREMIER ZHU RONGJI -- WHO IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT WASHINGTON NEXT
MONTH -- ISSUED A STRONG DENIAL IN BEIJING.
A DIPLOMAT AT THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON HAS REPEATED THE
DENIALS. ASKED WHETHER CHINA HAD ACQUIRED AMERICAN NUCLEAR
SECRETS, HE YAFEI SAID -- NOTHING OF THIS SORT HAS EVER HAPPENED.
MR. HE BLAMED THE NEW STRAIN ON U-S/CHINA RELATIONS ON UN-NAMED
AMERICANS WHO MISS HAVING A COLD-WAR ENEMY LIKE THE SOVIET UNION.
/// HE ACT ///
THIS IS REALLY COLD WAR MENTALITY. THEY ARE SORRY THAT
THE SOVIET UNION IS NO MORE AND THERE IS NO CLEAR ENEMY
BEFORE THEM. AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACT, HOW TO
OPERATE. AND WITH CHINA DEVELOPING VERY FAST -- A
COUNTRY LED BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY -- SO IT FITS VERY
WELL IN THEIR MODEL OF BEING AN ENEMY.
/// END ACT ///
U-S SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THERE IS NO DOUBT CHINA'S
WEAPONS PROGRAM BENEFITED FROM AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY.
THE EMPLOYEE AT THE LOS ALAMOS LABORATORY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THE JOB HE REPORTEDLY KEPT WHILE INVESTIGATORS SOUGHT TO
ESTABLISH WHETHER THERE WAS A SPY RING. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/RAE
18-Mar-99 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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