DATE=7/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA PAKISTAN (L)
NUMBER=2-263993
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S intelligence officials have told the
Clinton administration and Congress that China is
helping Pakistan build long-range missiles capable of
carrying nuclear weapons. As Correspondent Jim Randle
reports, a weapons expert says the new information
shows Pakistan has a stronger missile program than
previously thought -complicating efforts to slow the
spread of advanced weapons technology.
TEXT: U-S intelligence agencies say China has stopped
shipping completed missiles to Pakistan, but instead
is sending information, materials, and experts needed
to help Pakistan improve missiles on its own.
This help is said to include specialty steel and
guidance systems. One published report says Chinese
experts have been seen near Pakistan's newest missile
factory, which bears a close resemblance to Chinese
weapons facilities.
The information was apparently leaked to major U-S
newspapers after intelligence agencies briefed key
members of Congress on the development.
The shipments from China increased after South Asian
rivals India and Pakistan set off nuclear tests in
1998.
The Clinton administration is sending a high-ranking
delegation Tuesday to Beijing to discuss the issue.
The team is led by arms-control expert John Holum.
Weapons technology expert John Pike, of the private
Federation of American Scientists, says Pakistan now
has its own domestic development and production
capability for missiles, rather than having to import
entire missiles from China.
/// PIKE ACT //
So the United States has prevented one form of
missile proliferation between China and
Pakistan, now only to have this more difficult-
to-track technical assistance gate open up.
After the nuclear weapons tests (by India and
Pakistan) two-years ago, China resumed technical
assistance to Pakistan since both China and
Pakistan are concerned about India's nuclear and
missile programs and they share a common
adversary.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Pike says Beijing's technical assistance to
Pakistan's missile program is likely to be `a major
irritant' in relations between China and the United
States during the next few years.
/// REST OPT ///
And a report published in the New York Times says the
new intelligence could complicate or even imperil
Senate passage of normal trade relations with China.
The trade bill has passed the House of Representatives
- but only after a bruising political fight.
The missile issue comes as relations between Beijing
and Washington appeared to be warming after months of
strain caused by the accidental bombing of China's
embassy in Yugoslavia last year, and China's
belligerent rhetoric toward Taiwan before the recent
election on the island. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/RAE
02-Jul-2000 12:30 PM EDT (02-Jul-2000 1630 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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