DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249756
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / SPYING (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA HAS REJECTED, AS UNFOUNDED, A U-S CONGRESSIONAL
REPORT THAT SAYS BEIJING STOLE U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS DURING THE
PAST 20-YEARS IN AN EFFORT TO MODERNIZE ITS ATOMIC ARSENAL. AS
WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON, CHINA SAYS THE REPORT
BY A SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE IS AIMED AT STIRRING UP
ANTI-CHINESE FEELINGS AMONG AMERICANS.
TEXT: CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO -- SPEAKING
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- SAYS THE CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON
CHINESE ESPIONAGE WAS DRAWN UP BY PEOPLE WHO STILL HAVE A
COLD-WAR MENTALITY. HE SAYS THE AIM OF THE REPORT IS TO SLANDER
CHINA AND DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE EMBASSY BOMBING.
/// OPT INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
SOME PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES MAKE SOME UNFOUNDED
COUNTERCHARGES, INTENSIFYING THEIR EFFORTS TO WHIP UP THIS
NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE CASE, AND THEY ARE DOING SO WITH ULTERIOR
MOTIVES WITH THE INTENTION OF WHIPPING UP THE CHINA THREAT THEORY
AND ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENTS TO DEFLECT CHINESE PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
THEIR DESPICABLE ATTEMPT IS DOOMED TO FAILURE.
/// END OPT ACTUALITY ///
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS ARE EVEN SUGGESTING THE
PANEL'S CONCLUSIONS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT AMERICAN ESPIONAGE IN
CHINA. WHILE DENYING ANY SPYING ON THE UNITED STATES, THEY ASK
HOW U-S INTELLIGENCE COULD HAVE OBTAINED THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THE REPORT IF NOT THROUGH ITS OWN ESPIONAGE EFFORTS.
THE REPORT ON CHINESE ESPIONAGE AT U-S WEAPONS LABORATORIES COMES
AS RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING ARE GOING THROUGH ONE
OF THEIR ROUGHEST MOMENTS IN RECENT YEARS.
JUST THREE-WEEKS AGO, NATO AIRCRAFT BOMBED THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN
YUGOSLAVIA, SPARKING VIOLENT ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS IN
CHINA. WASHINGTON APOLOGIZED, SAYING THE BOMBING WAS THE RESULT
OF ERRONEOUS INTELLIGENCE. BUT BEIJING SAYS PUBLICLY IT IS STILL
UNCONVINCED THAT THE ATTACK WAS NOT DELIBERATE.
SPOKESMAN ZHU ALSO HAD HARSH WORDS FOR THE APPROVAL BY JAPAN'S
PARLIAMENT, THE DIET, OF BILLS STRENGTHENING DEFENSE TIES BETWEEN
TOKYO AND WASHINGTON. THE BILLS WOULD ALLOW JAPAN'S MILITARY TO
GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO U-S FORCES IN A REGIONAL CRISIS. BUT CHINA
FEARS ANY RESURGENCE OF JAPANESE MILITARISM, AND MR. ZHU SAYS
JAPAN SHOULD HONOR ITS CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT NOT TO BECOME A
MILITARY POWER.
CHINA OPPOSES ANY ATTEMPT BY THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO
DEFEND TAIWAN, WHICH BEIJING REGARDS AS A RENEGADE PROVINCE.
CHINA HAS REFUSED TO RULE OUT THE USE OF FORCE TO REUNITE THE
ISLAND WITH THE MAINLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC/RAE
25-May-99 7:56 AM EDT (1156 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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