DATE=5/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232190
TITLE=CHINA / INDIA TEST ( L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA SAYS IT IS SHOCKED BY INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS AND
SAYS IT STRONGLY CONDEMNS THEM. AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS
FROM BEIJING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS BLAMING INDIA FOR CAUSING
AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.
TEXT: AT THURSDAY'S REGULAR FOREIGN MINISTRY BRIEFING, SPOKESMAN
ZHU BANGZAO READ THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF
PROTEST OVER THE INDIAN TESTS.
// ZHU AND TRANSLATOR ACTUALITY //
(CHINESE) THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS DEEPLY SHOCKED BY THIS AND
HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS STRONG CONDEMNATION.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. ZHU SAYS THE INDIAN ACT SHOWS WHAT HE CALLS OUTRAGEOUS
CONTEMPT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. HE CALLS IT A BLOW TO
INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO PREVENT NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION.
HE ACCUSES INDIA OF STARTING AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.
// ZHU AND TRANSLATOR ACTUALITY //
(CHINESE) THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ITSELF HAS UNDERMINED THE
INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN BANNING NUCLEAR TESTS SO AS TO OBTAIN THE
HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA AND TRIGGERED OFF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN
THE REGION.
// END ACTUALITY //
INDIAN OFFICIALS HAVE RECENTLY SAID CHINA POSES A SERIOUS
MILITARY THREAT TO INDIA. THE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA SAYS INDIAN
PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHIAR VAJPAYEE POINTED TO AN ATMOSPHERE OF
DISTRUST BETWEEN HIS COUNTRY AND CHINA, IN A LETTER TO PRESIDENT
CLINTON EXPLAINING THE DECISION TO CONDUCT NUCLEAR TESTS.
THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN CALLED THESE CHARGES MALICIOUS AND
GROUNDLESS.
// ZHU AND TRANSLATOR ACTUALITY //
(CHINESE) THIS GRATUITOUS ACCUSATION BY INDIA AGAINST CHINA IS
SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINDING AN EXCUSE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
// END ACTUALITY //
THURSDAY, THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SUMMONED INDIA'S
AMBASSADOR TO CHINA -- VIJAY KUNHIANANDAN NAMBIAR -- TO EXPRESS
BEIJING'S CONCERN.
// ZHU AND TRANSLATOR ACTUALITY //
(CHINESE) ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER WANG GUANGYA HAS ALREADY
MET UPON INSTRUCTION AMBASSADOR NAMBIAR OF INDIA TO CHINA, MAKING
SOLEMN REPRESENTATIONS TO THE INDIAN SIDE CONCERNING INDIA'S
NUCLEAR TESTS.
// END ACTUALITY //
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TANG JIAXUAN DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE BY
TELEPHONE WITH U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT, WHO
INFORMED HIM OF THE U-S DECISION TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON INDIA.
THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR AND UNIFIED POSITION. HOWEVER, HE
WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER CHINA SUPPORTS IMPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST
INDIA. HE SAYS CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.
(SIGNED)
NEB / HO / GC / WD
14-May-98 5:10 AM EDT (0910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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