DATE=3/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246838
TITLE=CHINA DENIES NUKE THEFT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A CHINESE DIPLOMAT IN WASHINGTON HAS REPEATED BEIJING'S 
CATEGORICAL DENIAL IT STOLE NUCLEAR SECRETS FROM THE UNITED 
STATES.  CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER REPORTS, MINISTER COUNSELOR HE 
YAFEI BLAMES WHAT HE TERMS A COLD-WAR MENTALITY FOR THE 
ACCUSATIONS.

TEXT:  A DEBATE IS UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON ABOUT REPORTS A 
LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE AT A U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS RESEARCH LABORATORY 
GAVE CRITICAL SECRETS TO CHINA OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.  THE 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR WHAT CRITICS SAY 
IS ITS SLOWNESS TO CORRECT SECURITY FAILINGS AT THE SENSITIVE 
LABORATORIES.

ADMINISTRATION DEFENDERS SAY SECURITY PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN 
STRENGTHENED IN THE WAKE OF ALLEGATIONS A CHINESE-AMERICAN 
SCIENTIST PASSED SECRETS TO CHINA THAT HELPED IT DEVELOP SMALLER 
NUCLEAR WARHEADS FOR INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES.

CHINA HAS DENIED THE BASIS FOR THE ENTIRE CONTROVERSY.  FIRST 
PREMIER ZHU RONGJI -- WHO IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT WASHINGTON NEXT 
MONTH -- ISSUED A STRONG DENIAL IN BEIJING.

A DIPLOMAT AT THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON HAS REPEATED THE 
DENIALS.  ASKED WHETHER CHINA HAD ACQUIRED AMERICAN NUCLEAR 
SECRETS, HE YAFEI SAID -- NOTHING OF THIS SORT HAS EVER HAPPENED.

MR. HE BLAMED THE NEW STRAIN ON U-S/CHINA RELATIONS ON UN-NAMED 
AMERICANS WHO MISS HAVING A COLD-WAR ENEMY LIKE THE SOVIET UNION.

                         /// HE ACT ///

         THIS IS REALLY COLD WAR MENTALITY.  THEY ARE SORRY THAT 
         THE SOVIET UNION IS NO MORE AND THERE IS NO CLEAR ENEMY 
         BEFORE THEM.  AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACT, HOW TO 
         OPERATE.  AND WITH CHINA DEVELOPING VERY FAST -- A 
         COUNTRY LED BY THE COMMUNIST PARTY -- SO IT FITS VERY 
         WELL IN THEIR MODEL OF BEING AN ENEMY.

                         /// END ACT ///

U-S SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THERE IS NO DOUBT CHINA'S 
WEAPONS PROGRAM BENEFITED FROM AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY.

THE EMPLOYEE AT THE LOS ALAMOS LABORATORY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM 
THE JOB HE REPORTEDLY KEPT WHILE INVESTIGATORS SOUGHT TO 
ESTABLISH WHETHER THERE WAS A SPY RING.   (SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/RAE

18-Mar-99 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.