DATE=03/17/99
      TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
    NUMBER=6-11194
     TITLE=WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS         
    BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
 TELEPHONE=619-3335
  DATELINE=WASHINGTON
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

CONTENT=


INTRO:  THE U-S PRESS CONTINUES TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ALLEGATIONS
OF CHINESE ESPIONAGE TARGETING THE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM, 
AND HOW CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE HANDLING THIS ALLEGED 
SECURITY BREACH.


NOW, HERE IS ________________ WITH SOME EXCERPTS AND A CLOSER 
LOOK, IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

 TEXT:  ONE OF SEVERAL PAPERS CALLING FOR A CRITICAL REASSESSMENT
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA IN LIGHT OF THE LATEST SPYING 
ALLEGATIONS IS "THE MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE:   PRESIDENT CLINTON NOW IS PLAYING 'CATCH UP' WITH 
         CONGRESS IN HIS EFFORTS TO CONTAIN A DEVELOPING 
         NATIONAL-SECURITY SCANDAL AND DEFEND HIS POLICY OF 
         'ENGAGEMENT' WITH CHINA.  /// OPT ///... THE UNITED 
         STATES WON'T RETAIN ITS PREEMINENCE AS A SUPERPOWER IF 
         NATIONAL-SECURITY CONCERNS DON'T RISE TO TAKE PRECEDENCE
         OVER TRADE POLICIES AND WASHINGTON'S YEAR-ROUND DASH FOR
         CASH TO FINANCE ELECTIONS. /// END OPT ///  CHINA 
         ASPIRES TO SUPERPOWER STATUS ...[PURSUING] ITS NATIONAL 
         INTERESTS WITH A STEADFASTNESS UNMATCHED BY THE WHITE 
         HOUSE OR [THE] STATE DEPARTMENT ...THOUGH THIS SCANDAL 
         SPANS THREE ADMINISTRATIONS, IT IS THE CLINTON WHITE 
         HOUSE THAT FAILED TO HEED DIRECT WARNINGS IN 1997 AND 
         TAKE ACTION BEFORE FORCED TO DO SO.

TEXT:  BUT TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SAYS WHILE THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF
NUCLEAR WARHEAD TECHNOLOGY IS SERIOUS, REPUBLICANS, AND EVEN SOME
DEMOCRATS, IN CONGRESS ARE UNWISELY EXAGGERATING THE ISSUE.

VOICE:   ABSURDITY IS INTERTWINED WITH NONSENSE IN THESE 
         FLAMBOYANT POSTURINGS.  IF IT IS IN AMERICA'S INTEREST 
         FOR BEIJING TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE FREE-TRADE PROVISIONS
         OF THE W-T-O [WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION] THAT INTENT 
         SHOULD  NOT  BE THWARTED BECAUSE SECURITY WAS LAX DURING
         THE 1980S AT LOS ALAMOS (NEW MEXICO NUCLEAR LABORATORY. 
         /// OPT ///  AS [FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE DURING THE 
         NIXON YEARS] HENRY KISSINGER HAS SAID, IF CHINA STOLE 
         U-S DESIGNS TO MINIATURIZE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, THAT IS OUR 
         FAULT, NOT THEIRS.  ... CHINA SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED FROM
         THREATENING TAIWAN AND ENCOURAGED TO RESPECT HUMAN 
         RIGHTS IN CHINA AND PERMIT AUTONOMY IN TIBET.  BUT /// 
         END OPT /// THE LAST THING THAT WASHINGTON SHOULD WANT 
         IS TO FABRICATE A CHINA THREAT THAT METAMORPHOSES INTO A
         SELF-FULLFILLING PROPHECY.


TEXT:   THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM 
SOME OF WEDNESDAY'S U-S PRESS ON THIS ST. PATRICK'S DAY, HONORING
IRELAND'S PATRON SAINT.

NEB/ANG/GE

17-Mar-99 11:18 AM EST (1618 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.