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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

QUESTION: Senator Shelby has just released the findings of his investigation into China, among them saying that China's ballistic missile program has benefited from satellite technology from the United States. I'm wondering - on a related subject - if the Administration has any evidence that China continues to proliferate missile technology or components to other countries?

MR. RUBIN: On the report, there are some parts of this report that we do agree with - many of the points we do agree with; that is that the United States should not assist China's ballistic missile program in connection with Chinese launches of US commercial communication satellites. We have not authorized the transfer of any technology to assist Chinese ballistic missile programs. We do share the Committee's concern that unauthorized assistance and transfers of technology relevant to space launch vehicles and ballistic missiles may have occurred during certain space launch failures. That is why the Department of Justice is investigating these allegations to determine if any violation of our regulations occurred.

We also agree with the finding that there is no evidence that these unauthorized technology transfers have in fact been incorporated into China's currently deployed ICBM force, which was developed and deployed long before US satellites were approved for export to China. We're also concerned about the unauthorized assistance and transfers of space-launch vehicle technology could assist the Chinese in the future. That's why we're working very hard to make sure not only that the US export regulations are followed carefully, but that non-US foreign sources do not provide China with this kind of technology.

In addition, we have a number of responses to these various reports -- to the Senate report. With respect to your question, we believe that we have made great strides in recent years in getting China to act in greater conformity with international rules and norms in this area. They've joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty; they have agreed to phase out nuclear cooperation with Iran; not to export ground-to-ground missiles to any country; and to abide by the UN arms embargo against Iraq. We have no reason to conclude that China has undertaken actions inconsistent with these commitments.

We are concerned, in many respects, about certain Chinese entities that may provide technology - especially to Iran and Pakistan - and we have made those concerns made to the Chinese leadership at the highest levels, including most recently in Premier Zhu's visit. We will continue to work with China to bring its policies and practices more and more in line with international norms.

With respect to North Korea, we are concerned by reports that North Korea may be seeking materials from China. We've raised these concerns with China directly, and it's a matter we're following extremely closely.

QUESTION: What do we think North Korea is trying to get?

MR. RUBIN: We do have concerns that they are seeking certain technology - materials called "specialty steel" that can be used in their missile program. We have heard reports to that effect; we're concerned by those reports. We've raised this issue directly with the Chinese and we're going to be following it very closely.

QUESTION: Would it be appropriate at this time for the State Department to either rebuke, sanction or demarche China for these strategic spying activities?

MR. RUBIN: As you know, that's a matter under investigation, and the White House has spoken to that extensively so I don't have any further comment.

...............

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing concluded at 1:45 P.M.)

[end of document]