DATE=5/7/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43338
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA SATELLITES
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CONGRESSIONAL PANEL SAYS AMERICAN SATELLITE FIRMS
INADVERTENTLY HELPED CHINA'S MISSILE PROGRAM. IN A FINAL REPORT
WRAPPING UP A YEAR-LONG INQUIRY, THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE SAYS THE RISK TO U-S NATIONAL SECURITY IS REAL, AND
THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND -- FROM WASHINGTON TO
BEIJING TO THE BOARDROOMS OF CORPORATE AMERICA. V-O-A'S PAULA
WOLFSON REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
TEXT: IT'S A COMPLEX STORY. AND THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE FOUND NO EASY ANSWERS. LAST MAY, THE PANEL BEGAN AN
INQUIRY INTO REPORTS CHINA GLEANED IMPORTANT MISSILE TECHNOLOGY
FROM U-S FIRMS. THESE COMPANIES GOT GOVERNMENT EXPORT LICENSES
TO LAUNCH SATELLITES ON CHINESE ROCKETS. WHEN THE ROCKETS
FAILED, THEY SENT ENGINEERS TO CHINA TO IMPROVE LAUNCH
RELIABILITY.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE TECHNOLOGY THAT POWERS THESE ROCKETS CAN HAVE
MILITARY APPLICATIONS..
/// SHELBY TEASE ACT ///
THERE IS NO DOUBT, IN MY MIND, THAT U-S MISSILE
TECHNOLOGY WAS INDEED TRANSFERRED TO CHINA.
/// END ACT ///
ALABAMA REPUBLICAN RICHARD SHELBY CHAIRS THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE.
/// SHELBY ACT ///
THIS TRANSFER GAVE CHINA THE CAPABILITY TO IMPROVE ITS
PRESENT AND FUTURE SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES, ITS I-C-B-MS
(LONG RANGE MISSILES), AND OTHER MILITARY BALLISTIC
MISSILES.
/// END ACT ///
SIXTEEN OF THE SEVENTEEN COMMITTEE MEMBERS PUT THEIR NAMES ON THE
COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT ON THE SATELLITE CONTROVERSY. IT WAS A
RARE SHOW OF BIPARTISANSHIP IN A CONGRESS WHERE DEBATE ON CHINA
IS USUALLY POLITICALLY CHARGED.
THE REPORT IS SHARPLY CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS
PREDECESSOR, REPUBLICAN GEORGE BUSH. IT SAYS SINCE 1989, THERE
HAS BEEN LAX ENFORCEMENT OF EXPORT CONTROLS DESIGNED TO KEEP
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS FROM GETTING SENSITIVE U-S TECHNOLOGY.
NEBRASKA SENATOR BOB KERREY IS THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE PANEL. HE
SAYS THE EXPORT-LICENSE PROGRAM MUST BE REVIEWED AND MONITORING
MUST BE STRENGTHENED.
/// KERREY ACT ///
IT'S A VERY SERIOUS BREACH OF SECURITY THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED IN THIS REPORT. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN,
IN A CONSTRUCTIVE FASHION, CLOSE THE GAPS THAT WE HAVE
IN OUR SECURITY
/// END ACT ///
MR. KERREY SAYS THE INTERESTS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE
TAKEN PRECEDENCE OVER NATIONAL SECURITY. HE SAYS CONGRESS CAN
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PASS LAWS, BUT THE ULTIMATE FATE OF THE
PROGRAM RESTS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.
/// KERREY ACT ///
IF THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP AND THE PRESIDENT DON'T
UNDERSTAND THIS RISK AND DON'T SAY "THERE MAY COME A
TIME WHEN WE ARE GOING TO SAY 'NO' TO A COMMERCIAL
INTEREST BECAUSE A NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN DOMINATES,"
THEN NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WITH LAWS AND RESOURCES IT
IS LIKELY MISTAKES ARE GOING TO BE MADE THAT INCREASE
THE RISK AND DECREASE THE SECURITY OF THE PEOPLE OF
AMERICA.
/////END ACT///////
THE REPORT ALSO POINTS TO LOBBYING BY AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS
FIRMS. IT SAYS CHINA PUT PRESSURE ON SATELLITE COMPANIES, URGING
THEM TO DEMAND FEWER EXPORT RESTRICTIONS, AND WARNING THEIR
ACCESS TO THE LUCRATIVE CHINESE MARKET COULD BE LIMITED. IT SAYS
THE COMPANIES THEN CAMPAIGNED FOR CHANGES IN EXPORT POLICY.
THE SENATE INVESTIGATORS SAY THE EVIDENCE IS LESS CONCLUSIVE
REGARDING CHINESE EFFORTS TO DIRECTLY AFFECT U-S POLICY THROUGH
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. (OPT) BUT SENATOR SHELBY SAYS HE IS STILL
WORRIED.
////SHELBY ACT////
THE P-R-C TRIED TO INFLUENCE OUR POLICY AND POLITICS BY
COVERT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT
ABOUT IT. THERE IS VERY LITTLE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
ON WHICH TO BASE A CONCLUSION AS TO THE DEPTH AND
BREADTH OF THIS EFFORT. IT IS, HOWEVER, VERY
DISTURBING TO A LOT OF US.
/////END ACT (END OPT) ///
THE SATELLITE AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION CONTROVERSIES COMPRISED
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE'S
INVESTIGATION. THE PANEL IS NOW LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS OF
CHINESE NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/KL/WTW
07-May-99 2:56 PM EDT (1856 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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