DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249801
TITLE=CLINTON / CHINA ESPIONAGE (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE WILL  NOT  ABANDON HIS POLICY 
OF ENGAGEMENT WITH BEIJING, DESPITE THE RELEASE OF A HOUSE 
(SELECT) COMMITTEE REPORT ALLEGING A MASSIVE CHINESE EFFORT TO 
ACQUIRE SENSITIVE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS INFORMATION.  CORRESPONDENT
DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT:  MR. CLINTON HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM SOME IN THE 
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS FOR HIS ENGAGEMENT POLICY WITH 
CHINA.  SOME CRITICS SAY THE FINDINGS IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE'S 
REPORT ARE A DISTURBING RESULT OF SUCH A POLICY.

BUT THE PRESIDENT DISAGREES.

WHILE VOWING TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED 
AT BETTER PROTECTING NATIONAL SECURITY, MR. CLINTON ALSO DEFENDED
HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH BEIJING, AND SAID IT WOULD CONTINUE.

                    /// FIRST CLINTON ACT ///

         I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT OUR CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT WITH 
         CHINA HAS PRODUCED BENEFITS FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.  
         FOR EXAMPLE, CHINA'S DECISION TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE 
         TEST BAN TREATY SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES ITS ABILITY TO 
         DEVELOP NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  WE PERSUADED CHINA TO END 
         NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH IRAN AND WITH PAKISTAN ON 
         SAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR PROGRAMS.  CHINA IS WORKING WITH US 
         TO HELP ELIMINATE NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, AND 
         REDUCE ITS MISSILE THREAT.

                         /// END ACT ///

AT THE SAME TIME, MR. CLINTON SAYS CHINA -- LIKE MANY OTHER 
COUNTRIES -- SEEKS TO ACQUIRE SENSITIVE INFORMATION AND 
TECHNOLOGY FROM THE UNITED STATES.  HE AGREED WITH THE HOUSE 
COMMITTEE THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STRENGTHEN EXPORT 
CONTROLS AND PROTECTIONS ON U-S NATIONAL SECURITY. 

BUT HE ALSO ISSUED A VEILED RESPONSE TO REPUBLICAN CRITICS WHO 
BELIEVE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO 
ALLEGED CHINESE ESPIONAGE.

                   /// SECOND CLINTON ACT ///

         SINCE 1996, WE HAVE INCREASED FUNDING FOR 
         COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE FROM TWO-POINT-SIX-MILLION DOLLARS 
         TO ALMOST 40-MILLION DOLLARS.  WE ARE GIVING POLYGRAPHS 
         TO SCIENTISTS IN SENSITIVE AREAS, HAVING BACKGROUND 
         CHECKS ON VISITORS FROM SENSITIVE COUNTRIES.  WE HAVE 
         STRICT CONTROLS ON THE TRANSFER OF SENSITIVE COMMERCIAL 
         AND MILITARY TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA -- STRICTER THAN FOR 
         ANY OTHER COUNTRIES EXCEPT THOSE LIKE LIBYA, ON WHICH WE
         HAVE A TOTAL EMBARGO.

                         /// END ACT ///

EARLIER, THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED A DETAILED WRITTEN RESPONSE TO 
THE REPORT, SAYING IT AGREES WITH MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT
SAYS CHINESE STRATEGIC NUCLEAR EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING
AND DEPLOYING A LONG-RANGE MISSILE THAT, IN A RETALIATORY STRIKE,
COULD POSE A RISK TO WHAT IT CALLS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE 
U-S AND RUSSIAN POPULATIONS.

THE DOCUMENT CONCLUDES CHINA HAS OBTAINED CLASSIFIED U-S NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS INFORMATION THAT PROBABLY ACCELERATED ITS PROGRAM TO 
DEVELOP FUTURE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  IT IS A FINDING SIMILAR TO THE 
CONCLUSION OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.  

BUT THE INDEPENDENT ANALYSTS' DOCUMENT ALSO SAYS SIGNIFICANT 
DEFICIENCIES REMAIN IN THE CHINESE WEAPONS PROGRAM.  IT ADDS 
THAT, TO DATE, CHINA'S ACQUISITION OF U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
INFORMATION HAS  NOT  RESULTED IN ANY APPARENT MODERNIZATION OF 
BEIJING'S DEPLOYED STRATEGIC FORCE, OR ANY DEPLOYMENT OF NEW 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/WTW

25-May-99 6:15 PM EDT (2215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.