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DATE=5/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232061
TITLE=CHINA/INDIA TESTS (L)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AFTER SOME DELAY, CHINA HAS ISSUED A CAREFULLY WORDED 
RESPONSE TO NEIGHBORING INDIA'S DECISION TO CONDUCT THREE 
UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TESTS ON MONDAY.  V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO 
REPORTS, DEFENSE ISSUES HAVE RECENTLY CAUSED A WAR OF WORDS 
BETWEEN BEIJING AND NEW DELHI. 
TEXT:  NEARLY 24 HOURS AFTER INDIA CONDUCTED THREE UNDERGROUND 
NUCLEAR TESTS, CHINA FINALLY HAD A RESPONSE.  
CHINA'S MAIN EVENING NEWSCAST TUESDAY ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT'S 
GRAVE CONCERN WITH THE INDIAN NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.
   // TELEVISION ANNOUNCER IN CHINESE -- IN FULL, FADE OUT //
THE OFFICIAL CHINESE STATEMENT SAYS PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE 
INTERNATIONALLY TOWARD NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION, AND SAYS INDIA'S 
NUCLEAR TESTS GO AGAINST THIS GLOBAL TREND.  IT ADDS THAT THE 
INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PEACE AND STABILITY 
OF SOUTH ASIA.
MEANWHILE, CHINESE MEDIA REPORTED THE INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS AND 
REPORTED THE ENSUING INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION.
A WESTERN DIPLOMAT IS QUOTED AS SAYING IT WAS A SENSITIVE ISSUE 
FOR CHINA TO COME UP WITH A RESPONSE TO THE SURPRISE INDIAN 
NUCLEAR TESTS.  THE DIPLOMAT SAYS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DID  NOT
WANT TO BE SEEN AS INTERFERING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY'S INTERNAL 
AFFAIRS -- SOMETHING BEIJING OFTEN ACCUSES OTHER COUNTRIES OF 
DOING.  
EARLIER TUESDAY, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO 
SAID HE HAD  NO  STATEMENT ABOUT THE INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS YET.  
HOWEVER, HE REPEATED BEIJING'S CRITICISM OF RECENT REMARKS BY 
INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES -- WHO SAID CHINA IS 
INDIA'S MAIN MILITARY THREAT.  
            // ZHU AND TRANSLATOR ACT // (CHINESE)  
         SOME INDIAN OFFICIALS RECENTLY MADE -- REPEATEDLY MADE 
         THEIR REMARKS AGAINST CHINA.  WE HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED 
         OUR DEEP REGRET. 
                          // END ACT //
CHINA AND INDIA FOUGHT A BRIEF WAR IN 1962.  ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE 
SINCE AGREED TO MAINTAIN PEACE ALONG THE DISPUTED BORDER, 
SUSPICIONS LINGER.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/HO/MMK
12-May-98 9:22 AM EDT (1322 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.