DATE=5/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249444
TITLE=U-S - CHINA / ESPIONAGE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S LAWMAKERS ARE PREPARING TO RELEASE A REPORT 
CONCLUDING THAT CHINA HAS STOLEN U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY, 
BUT THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, LI ZHAOXING, IS 
DENYING HIS COUNTRY WAS EVER INVOLVED IN SUCH ESPIONAGE.  
CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE REPORT BY A HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE COULD BE RELEASED 
AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK. BUT SOME OF ITS FINDINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
LEAKED TO THE NEWS MEDIA -- INCLUDING THAT CHINA OBTAINED 
INFORMATION ON SEVEN SEPARATE WEAPONS SYSTEMS, AND THAT IT USED 
U-S TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP A NEUTRON BOMB.   BEIJING REPORTEDLY 
OBTAINED THE INFORMATION THROUGH PERVASIVE SPYING AT FIVE MAJOR 
U-S NUCLEAR LABORATORIES.

THE COMMITTEE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT U-S NATIONAL SECURITY HAS 
BEEN HARMED.  

THE HEAD OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN 
CHRISTOPHER COX OF CALIFORNIA, IS REFUSING COMMENT ON THE DETAILS
OF THE REPORT.   IN AN AMERICAN TELEVISION INTERVIEW (A-B-C'S 
'THIS WEEK') SUNDAY, HE DID SAY CHINA'S CURRENT NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
PROGRAM HAS BENEFITED FROM THE THEFT OF U-S TECHNOLOGY.

                       // COX ACTUALITY //

         THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
         CHINA IS NOW DOING IS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT THEY HAVE 
         STOLEN FROM THE UNITED STATES.

                          // END ACT //

BUT ON A DIFFERENT TELEVISION PROGRAM (ON N-B-C'S MEET THE 
PRESS), CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, LI ZHAOXING, 
REJECTED THE CHARGE.

                       // LI ACTUALITY //

         I CAN ASSURE YOU WE HAVE NEVER STOLEN ANY 
         HIGH-TECH(NOLOGY) FROM THE UNITED STATES.

                          // END ACT //

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE AVOIDED COMMENT ON THE 
COMMITTEE REPORT UNTIL ITS RELEASE.

BUT OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE EXTENT AND THE IMPACT OF CHINESE 
ESPIONAGE REMAINS UNCLEAR.  STILL, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED 
TO IMPLEMENT NEARLY ALL THE SELECT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS 
AIMED AT CURBING THE THEFT OF U-S TECHNOLOGY -- INCLUDING 
TIGHTENING EXPORT CONTROLS AND TIGHTENING SECURITY AT NUCLEAR 
LABORATORIES.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/JO

16-May-99 3:37 PM EDT (1937 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.