DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249734
TITLE=CONGRESS / CHINA / NUCLEAR (S&L ONITER)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: REPORT WILL BE RELEASED TUESDAY MORNING, EMBARGOED
UNTIL 11:30 A.M. EDT / 1530 UTC ///
INTRO: A U-S CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE IS ABOUT TO UNVEIL A REPORT
ON ALLEGED CHINESE SPYING AT AMERICA'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABS AND
ELSEWHERE. THOUGH MUCH OF THE INFORMATION IS ALREADY KNOWN, THE
RELEASE IS LIKELY TO BRING MORE POLITICAL PROBLEMS FOR THE WHITE
HOUSE. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
TEXT: OPPOSITION REPUBLICANS CHARGE THE REPORT PROVIDES DAMAGING
DETAILS OF WHAT THEY CALL THE WORST SECURITY BREACH IN THE
NATION'S HISTORY.
SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BOB SMITH SAYS HE STILL WANTS
MORE ANSWERS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF THE CASE.
/// SMITH ACT ///
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PAY AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
WHAT HAS HAPPENED. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ACCEPTED. THIS
IS EVERY NUCLEAR WEAPON IN THE UNITED STATES ARSENAL
THAT'S BEEN COMPROMISED -- EVERY ONE OF THEM. EVERY
WARHEAD.
/// END ACT ///
CRITICS SAY A SUSPECTED SPY (-- WEN HO LEE --) WAS LEFT AT HIS
POST IN A NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB, LONG AFTER U-S OFFICIALS LEARNED
BEIJING HAD OBTAINED VITAL SECRETS ON AMERICAN WARHEADS. THE
WHITE HOUSE INSISTS IT HAS DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO STEM THE
LOSSES.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART REJECTS SUGGESTIONS THE PRESIDENT LIED OR
MISLED THE PUBLIC ABOUT HIS OWN KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATTER. HE ALSO
POINTS OUT THE SPYING ALLEGEDLY BEGAN AT LEAST AS FAR BACK AS THE
EARLY 1980S -- LONG BEFORE MR. CLINTON EVER TOOK OFFICE.
/// LOCKHART ACT ///
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM AND HAS
WORKED VERY HARD TO TIGHTEN THE SECURITY, SO THAT,
WHATEVER WAY IT HAPPENS, CLASSIFIED INFORMATION DOESN'T
FLOW OUT.
/// END ACT ///
HOWEVER, THE TAIWAN-BORN SUSPECT IS STILL NOT CHARGED WITH
ESPIONAGE -- AND, LAWMAKERS SAY, THE REPORT GOES WELL BEYOND THE
WARHEAD ISSUE. THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTENTS SAY IT OUTLINES
TRANSFERS OF OTHER SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY -- ON SATELLITES AND
ROCKETS, RADAR-EVADING "STEALTH" MATERIAL, SUPER-SPEED COMPUTERS
AND MILITARY HARDWARE.
THE WHITE HOUSE IS RESISTING DEMANDS THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET
RENO BE FIRED FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THE CASE.
OFFICIALS HOPE IT WILL NOT CAUSE TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE BROADER
RELATIONSHIP WITH BEIJING, WHICH ADAMANTLY DENIES SPYING. BUT AS
REPUBLICANS MAKE CLEAR, THE REPORT'S RELEASE WILL NOT BRING
THIS CONTROVERSY TO AN END. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WTW
24-May-99 4:08 PM EDT (2008 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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