DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249795
TITLE=CHINA SECURITY IMPACT (L-O)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL REPORT
ALLEGING CHINESE SPIES STOLE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS SECRETS IS VERY
DISTURBING. BUT THE OFFICIALS SAY THAT INFORMATION HAS NOT
YET BROUGHT MAJOR CHANGES IN THE NUMBER, ACCURACY OR POWER OF THE
WARHEADS CHINA COULD FIRE AT THE UNITED STATES. V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS EVEN AFTER YEARS OF
CUTTING ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL, THE UNITED STATES HAS A MUCH MORE
POWERFUL NUCLEAR FORCE THAN CHINA.
/// BACON ACT ///
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA IS HUGE. WE HAVE
A STRATEGIC NUCLEAR ARSENAL OF ABOUT SIX THOUSAND
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT THIS STAGE, AND THEY HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 20 MISSILES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO STRIKE THE
UNITED STATES. SO THERE IS A HUGE IMBALANCE.
/// END ACT ///
A RECENT DAMAGE ASSESSMENT BY THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
SAYS CHINA HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK ON ITS OWN NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS, SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH
OF THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITY IS HOME-GROWN AND HOW MUCH WAS
STOLEN. SO MR. BACON SAYS THE STOLEN SECRET HAVE NOT PRODUCE AN
APPARENT CHANGES IN CHINESE NUCLEAR FORCES.
/// BACON ACT ///
THEY (C-I-A) DID NOT FIND THAT THEIR PROGRAM TO ACQUIRE
NUCLEAR SECRETS IN THE U-S HAD RESULTED IN ANY APPARENT
MODERNIZATION OF THEIR DEPLOYED STRATEGIC FORCE.
/// END ACT ///
BUT MR. BACON SAYS CHINA IS HARD AT WORK IMPROVING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS AND EVERY OTHER KIND OF MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.
/// BACON ACT ///
THEY (CHINA'S MILITARY) STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN
THE SIZE AND THE SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR FORCE. BUT
THEY ARE CLEARLY MAKING AN INVESTMENT TO MODERNIZE THEIR
FORCE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BACON CALLS THE SPY SCANDAL A MATTER OF 'HUGE CONCERN' TO U-S
MILITARY OFFICIALS. HE SAYS PENTAGON LEADERS ARE COOPERATING IN
THE INVESTIGATIONS AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO TIGHTEN SECURITY AT
U-S MILITARY LABORATORIES.
MR. BACON SAYS THE RECENT FRICTION BETWEEN CHINA AND WASHINGTON
OVER THE ESPIONAGE CASE HAS PROMPTED DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM
COHEN TO PUT -- BUT NOT CANCEL -- A TRIP TO CHINA PLANNED FOR
JUNE. HE SAYS MILITARY-TO-MILITARY CONTACTS WITH CHINA BENEFIT
BOTH NATIONS BY REDUCING THE CHANCE OF MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE
FUTURE, AND BY REDUCING THE PERCEIVED NEED FOR A WEAPONS BUILD UP
IN ASIA. CHINA DENIES IT HAS STOLEN ANY MILITARY SECRETS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JR/JO
25-May-99 5:20 PM EDT (2120 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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