DATE=5/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232195
TITLE=INDIA / ASIA REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF TWO MORE NUCLEAR TESTS HAS SENT
SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THROUGHOUT ASIA. CONDEMNATION POURED IN FROM
ALL QUARTERS -- EVEN AS NATIONS WERE ALREADY IMPOSING SANCTIONS
AND SIMILAR MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST ANNOUNCED TESTS, 48
HOURS BEFORE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS FROM OUR
SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK.
TEXT: THE FUROR HAD NOT EVEN DIED DOWN OVER INDIA'S INITIAL
THREE NUCLEAR TESTS WHEN NEW OUTRAGE ERUPTED IN ASIA OVER
WEDNESDAY'S DETONATIONS.
ECHOING REGIONAL REACTION, NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN MINISTER DON
MCKINNON SAID HE WAS -- AS HE PUT IT -- JUST INCREDULOUS TO HEAR
OF ADDITIONAL NUCLEAR TESTS BY NEW DELHI.
// MCKINNON ACTUALITY //
I MEAN HERE WE HAD MORE THAN JUST NEW ZEALAND; MOST
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WERE SAYING THIS IS NOT A
GOOD IDEA OF INDIA'S TO DETONATE THESE THREE DEVICES.
AND THEN 48 HOURS LATER THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN. IT'S
REALLY UNBELIEVABLE. AND, FOR A STATE THAT REALLY WANTS
TO ENGAGE INTERNATIONALLY AND SEE ITSELF AS INFLUENTIAL
IN THE WORLD, THEY ARE REALLY BECOMING SOMETHING OF AN
INTERNATIONAL PARIAH.
// END ACTUALITY //
JAPAN -- THE ONLY COUNTRY TO EVER HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS DROPPED ON
ITS SOIL IN WARTIME -- ANNOUNCED STEPPED-UP SANCTIONS ON INDIA,
SAYING IT IS SUSPENDING ALL LOANS TO NEW DELHI AND IS RECALLING
ITS AMBASSADOR.
IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANWAR IBRAHIM
EXPRESSED WHAT HE SAID WAS NOT ONLY DEEP CONCERN, BUT ALSO
PROTEST OVER ACTIONS THAT HE SAID MIGHT FURTHER DESTABILIZE ASIA.
THE PHILIPPINES FOREIGN MINISTRY ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING
WHAT IT CALLED "SERIOUS CONCERN" OVER THE INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS.
AUSTRALIA -- WHICH HAS RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR -- ANNOUNCED THE
SUSPENSION OF BILATERAL AID AND DEFENSE TIES. AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER ACCUSED INDIA OF, AS HE PUT IT, PLAYING
FAST AND LOOSE WITH INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE
INTEREST OF SHORT-TERM POLITICAL GAIN.
IN NEW ZEALAND, MR. MCKINNON CALLED IN THE INDIAN AMBASSADOR FOR
THE SECOND TIME IN TWO DAYS TO EXPRESS HIS GOVERNMENT'S DEEP
DISAPPROVAL.
// MCKINNON ACTUALITY //
I MADE THE VERY POINTS THAT I MADE BEFORE, THAT, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS REALLY A VERY PROVOCATIVE STANCE. YOU ARE
ACTIVELY, VERY ACTIVELY, ENCOURAGING PAKISTAN TO DO
SOMETHING SIMILAR, AND THAT'S THE VERY THING THAT SHOULD
BE AVOIDED.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS DISPATCHED A HIGH-LEVEL DELEGATION
TO ISLAMABAD IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISSUADE PAKISTAN FROM JUST SUCH A
RESPONSE. A REPORT IN THURSDAY'S EDITIONS OF THE "NEW YORK TIMES"
SAYS PAKISTAN IS PREPARING ITS OWN UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TEST.
(SIGNED)
NEB / GPT / GC / WD
14-May-98 6:58 AM EDT (1058 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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