Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/17/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S / CHINA / ISRAEL (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-275018

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Pentagon has voiced new concern about Israeli arms sales to China. V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports the concern stems from evidence that Chinese fighters involved in the intercept of U-S surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea are carrying Israeli missiles.

TEXT: The presence of Israeli-made Python air-to-air missiles on Chinese fighters was revealed in a videotape released by the Pentagon. It was taken by the crew aboard a U-S surveillance plane that had a dangerously close encounter earlier this year with a Chinese interceptor.

/// AUDIO FROM U-S SURVEILLANCE PLANE ///

FIRST CREWMEMBER: A little too close.

SECOND CREWMEMBER: I agree.

THIRD CREWMEMBER: He's very, very close. He's almost probably 20 feet (6 meters) from our wingtip) so he's inside of our wingtip.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

The Chinese jet was so close that the Python missiles tucked under its wings were clearly visible.

Pentagon spokesman, Rear Admiral Craig Quigley, says Israel notified the United States of its Python sales to China only after the fact.

Admiral Quigley suggests the United States would have sought to block the deal had it known in advance.

/// QUIGLEY ACTUALITY ///

That's a good missile and its capabilities are considerable. We appreciate the Israelis telling us after the fact, but we're reluctant to provide such first rate combat capabilities to the Chinese military.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Details of Israel's military dealings with China are largely secret. But western experts in Beijing in the past have estimated the secret trade in military equipment between the two countries is worth more than 100-million dollars a year.

Israel last year canceled the sale to China of an airborne radar surveillance and warning system after protests from the United States. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/JWH