DATE=3/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246519
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA NUKE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS FACING GROWING POLITICAL 
PRESSURE OVER CHINA'S ALLEGED ACQUISITION OF U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS.
V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, CONGRESS IS GEARING UP FOR AN INQUIRY
INTO A NEWLY-EXPOSED ESPIONAGE CONTROVERSY AND OVERALL 
CHINESE-AMERICAN RELATIONS.

TEXT: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS BRIEFED 
LAWMAKERS (THURSDAY) ON WHAT COULD BE A SPY CASE WITH FAR- 
REACHING CONSEQUENCES.  AUTHORITIES BELIEVE BEIJING OBTAINED TOP-
SECRET NUCLEAR WARHEAD DATA FROM THE U-S GOVERNMENT WEAPONS LAB 
AT LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO.  THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT HAS FIRED A 
TAIWANESE-BORN SCIENTIST WHO IS CONSIDERED THE PRIME SUSPECT.  SO
FAR, HE HAS NOT BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED WITH WRONGDOING.

THOUGH THE TRANSFER REPORTEDLY TOOK PLACE IN THE 1980S, THE WHITE
HOUSE IS UNDER FIRE FOR NOT REACTING FASTER AFTER THE BREACH 
BECAME KNOWN.  REPUBLICAN SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS, WHO CHAIRS THE 
EAST ASIA-PACIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE, SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE  
NOT  INFORMED ABOUT THE INCIDENT AS THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS.

                       /// THOMAS ACT ///

         IF THERE HAS BEEN THESE THINGS HAPPENING AND THE 
         ADMINISTRATION HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT SINCE 1995, OR 1997 
         EVEN, AND HAS NOT DONE SOMETHING AND INDEED SOUGHT TO 
         COVER IT (UP), THEN THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME REAL 
         PENALTIES.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE WHITE HOUSE AND ITS ALLIES SAY THE PROPER STEPS HAVE BEEN 
TAKEN AND ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEM APPARENTLY BEGAN 
UNDER PRESIDENT REAGAN.

SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER TOM DASCHLE ARGUES THE BOOKS ON THE CASE
ARE CLOSED.  HE REJECTS CALLS BY SOME REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL 
CONTENDERS FOR THE OUSTER OF MR. CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADVISOR, SANDY BERGER.

                       /// DASCHLE ACT ///

         GIVEN THE PRESIDENTIAL NATURE AND THE POLITICAL NATURE 
         OF THE CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH THESE PEOPLE SAID IT, I 
         THINK ITS RIDICULOUS.  AND I'D SAY "GET REAL."

                         /// END ACT ///

HOWEVER, THE ISSUE SEEMS LIKELY TO SHADOW U-S CHINESE RELATIONS 
AT A CRITICAL MOMENT.  PREMIER ZHU RONGJI IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT 
WASHINGTON NEXT MONTH.  AFTER THAT COMES THE ANNUAL DEBATE ON 
RENEWING BEIJING'S TRADE BENEFITS.

THE TIES LATELY HAVE BEEN STRAINED BY CHINA'S MISSILE DEPLOYMENTS
NEAR TAIWAN AND ITS WARNING TO WASHINGTON NOT TO HELP THE ISLAND 
WITH COUNTERMEASURES.  REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER 
SAYS THE LOSS OF SECRETS MAKES THOSE MEASURES ALL THE MORE VITAL.

                     /// ROHRABACHER ACT ///

         TODAY WE SEE A BUILDUP OF COMMUNIST CHINESE ROCKETS. AND
         UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THOSE ROCKETS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED 
         BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY.  IT BEHOOVES ALL OF US THEN, IF 
         WE WANT TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND THE EQUILIBRIUM THAT WE'VE
         HAD FOR 20 YEARS IN THE TAIWAN STRAITS AND THE PACIFIC, 
         TO PROVIDE TAIWAN A DEFENSIVE SYSTEM.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SENATE BEGINS A ROUND OF HEARINGS ON THE MATTER NEXT WEEK.  
MEANWHILE, CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ARE AT ODDS OVER HOW MUCH
INFORMATION ON THE SENSITIVE CASE CAN BE MADE PUBLIC. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/WDC/JO  

11-Mar-99 3:15 PM EST (2015 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.