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DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251818
TITLE=U-S - CHINA NEUTRON (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT SEES  NO  LINKAGE 
BETWEEN CHINA'S STATEMENT THAT IT CAN PRODUCE NEUTRON BOMBS AND 
THE CURRENT TENSION BETWEEN BEIJING AND TAIWAN.  V-O-A'S GIL 
BUTLER HAS MORE ON THE U-S REACTION.
TEXT:  CHINA'S MILITARY HAS ISSUED A HARSHLY-WORDED RESPONSE TO 
ANY TALK OF TAIWANESE INDEPENDENCE, SAYING ITS ARMED FORCES ARE 
READY TO ATTACK TAIWAN TO UPHOLD THE MAINLAND'S CLAIM TO THE 
ISLAND.  AT THE SAME TIME, CHINA'S STATE COUNCIL ISSUED A REPORT 
SAYING BEIJING HAS MASTERED NEUTRON-BOMB TECHNOLOGY.  NEUTRON 
BOMBS ARE LOW-YIELD NUCLEAR DEVICES THAT CAN KILL PEOPLE WHILE 
MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS.
SOME ANALYSTS LINK THE TIMING OF THE NEUTRON-BOMB CLAIM TO THE  
RENEWED TENSION WITH TAIWAN.  BUT AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, 
SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THE CHINESE 
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS ANOTHER ANSWER TO A CONGRESSIONAL STUDY OF 
CHINESE SPYING AGAINST AMERICAN NUCLEAR LABORATORIES, MADE PUBLIC
TWO MONTHS AGO.
                     /// FIRST RUBIN ACT ///
         AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS WAS A RESPONSE TO THE COX 
         COMMITTEE REPORT, AND WE DON'T SEE ANY CONNECTION TO THE
         TAIWAN INCIDENT.  THEY'VE BEEN RESPONDING REGULARLY TO 
         ASPECTS OF THE COX COMMITTEE REPORT.
                         /// END ACT ///
QUESTIONED ABOUT CHINESE THREATS TO USE FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN, MR.
RUBIN CITED THE LAW GOVERNING AMERICA'S RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN.
                    /// SECOND RUBIN ACT ///
         WE ALSO, IN THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, PROVIDE THAT IT IS
         OUR POLICY TO CONSIDER ANY EFFORT TO DETERMINE THE 
         FUTURE OF TAIWAN BY OTHER THAN PEACEFUL MEANS, A THREAT 
         TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC AREA 
         AND OF GRAVE CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES.  THAT IS OUR 
         POLICY ON ANY USE OF FORCE.
                         /// END ACT ///
HE REITERRATED THE UNITED STATES' CALL FOR BOTH SIDES TO AVOID  
STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS THAT MAKE HOLDING MEANINGFUL CROSS-STRAIT 
TALKS MORE DIFFICULT.   (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WTW
15-Jul-99 3:40 PM EDT (1940 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.