DATE=12/14/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / SCIENTIST (L)
NUMBER=2-257123
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China is lashing out at accusations against a
Taiwan-born Chinese-American scientist, who has been
accused of mishandling secret U-S nuclear weapons
data. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
TEXT: U-S government scientist Wen Ho Lee was fired
from his job at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in
March, under suspicion of spying for China. He has
been in jail since being indicted Friday, on charges
of illegally taking nuclear secrets from the weapons
lab.
Although Mr. Lee was not formally charged with
espionage, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang
Qiyue told reporters Tuesday his ongoing case reflects
anti-China sentiment in the United States. Ms. Zhang,
speaking through an interpreter, said the Chinese
government thinks the charges against Mr. Lee are
trumped up.
// ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT //
I would like to point out here that some people in the
United States cling stubbornly to Cold War mentality
and fabricate the lies on the so-called China theft of
nuclear technology from the U-S, with ulterior
motives, in an attempt to defame China and China / U-S
relations.
// END ACT //
Mr. Lee is a Taiwan-born U-S citizen. His supporters
in the United States say he is a victim of racial bias
because of his Asian heritage.
Ms. Zhang declined to say whether she thinks Mr. Lee's
case reflects misunderstanding of China or of Chinese-
Americans.
// ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT //
I think it will come more and more clear with passage
of time, and I will not give any comments on the case,
itself.
// END ACT //
At a hearing Monday, a U-S federal judge decided Mr.
Lee is a danger to U-S security and has ordered him
kept in jail without bond. Mr. Lee's attorneys
offered to post a 100-thousand dollar bond and put
their client on electronic surveillance to make sure
he does not leave his Los Alamos home.
The former U-S government scientist has pleaded not
guilty. He could face life in prison if convicted on
59 charges of illegally taking top secret nuclear
weapons data from secure computers at the government
lab. The trial is due to take place next year.
Mr. Lee has repeatedly denied allegations he helped
China steal U-S nuclear secrets. The Chinese
government has also steadfastly rejected the charges.
(SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
14-Dec-1999 04:13 AM EDT (14-Dec-1999 0913 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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