DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249801
TITLE=CLINTON / CHINA ESPIONAGE (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE WILL NOT ABANDON HIS POLICY
OF ENGAGEMENT WITH BEIJING, DESPITE THE RELEASE OF A HOUSE
(SELECT) COMMITTEE REPORT ALLEGING A MASSIVE CHINESE EFFORT TO
ACQUIRE SENSITIVE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS INFORMATION. CORRESPONDENT
DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM SOME IN THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS FOR HIS ENGAGEMENT POLICY WITH
CHINA. SOME CRITICS SAY THE FINDINGS IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE'S
REPORT ARE A DISTURBING RESULT OF SUCH A POLICY.
BUT THE PRESIDENT DISAGREES.
WHILE VOWING TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED
AT BETTER PROTECTING NATIONAL SECURITY, MR. CLINTON ALSO DEFENDED
HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH BEIJING, AND SAID IT WOULD CONTINUE.
/// FIRST CLINTON ACT ///
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT OUR CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT WITH
CHINA HAS PRODUCED BENEFITS FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, CHINA'S DECISION TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE
TEST BAN TREATY SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES ITS ABILITY TO
DEVELOP NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE PERSUADED CHINA TO END
NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH IRAN AND WITH PAKISTAN ON
SAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR PROGRAMS. CHINA IS WORKING WITH US
TO HELP ELIMINATE NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, AND
REDUCE ITS MISSILE THREAT.
/// END ACT ///
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. CLINTON SAYS CHINA -- LIKE MANY OTHER
COUNTRIES -- SEEKS TO ACQUIRE SENSITIVE INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY FROM THE UNITED STATES. HE AGREED WITH THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STRENGTHEN EXPORT
CONTROLS AND PROTECTIONS ON U-S NATIONAL SECURITY.
BUT HE ALSO ISSUED A VEILED RESPONSE TO REPUBLICAN CRITICS WHO
BELIEVE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO
ALLEGED CHINESE ESPIONAGE.
/// SECOND CLINTON ACT ///
SINCE 1996, WE HAVE INCREASED FUNDING FOR
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE FROM TWO-POINT-SIX-MILLION DOLLARS
TO ALMOST 40-MILLION DOLLARS. WE ARE GIVING POLYGRAPHS
TO SCIENTISTS IN SENSITIVE AREAS, HAVING BACKGROUND
CHECKS ON VISITORS FROM SENSITIVE COUNTRIES. WE HAVE
STRICT CONTROLS ON THE TRANSFER OF SENSITIVE COMMERCIAL
AND MILITARY TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA -- STRICTER THAN FOR
ANY OTHER COUNTRIES EXCEPT THOSE LIKE LIBYA, ON WHICH WE
HAVE A TOTAL EMBARGO.
/// END ACT ///
EARLIER, THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED A DETAILED WRITTEN RESPONSE TO
THE REPORT, SAYING IT AGREES WITH MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT
SAYS CHINESE STRATEGIC NUCLEAR EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING
AND DEPLOYING A LONG-RANGE MISSILE THAT, IN A RETALIATORY STRIKE,
COULD POSE A RISK TO WHAT IT CALLS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE
U-S AND RUSSIAN POPULATIONS.
THE DOCUMENT CONCLUDES CHINA HAS OBTAINED CLASSIFIED U-S NUCLEAR
WEAPONS INFORMATION THAT PROBABLY ACCELERATED ITS PROGRAM TO
DEVELOP FUTURE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. IT IS A FINDING SIMILAR TO THE
CONCLUSION OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
BUT THE INDEPENDENT ANALYSTS' DOCUMENT ALSO SAYS SIGNIFICANT
DEFICIENCIES REMAIN IN THE CHINESE WEAPONS PROGRAM. IT ADDS
THAT, TO DATE, CHINA'S ACQUISITION OF U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS
INFORMATION HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY APPARENT MODERNIZATION OF
BEIJING'S DEPLOYED STRATEGIC FORCE, OR ANY DEPLOYMENT OF NEW
NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WTW
25-May-99 6:15 PM EDT (2215 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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