DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249795
TITLE=CHINA SECURITY IMPACT (L-O)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TOP PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL REPORT 
ALLEGING CHINESE SPIES STOLE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS SECRETS IS VERY 
DISTURBING.  BUT THE OFFICIALS SAY THAT INFORMATION HAS   NOT  
YET BROUGHT MAJOR CHANGES IN THE NUMBER, ACCURACY OR POWER OF THE
WARHEADS CHINA COULD FIRE AT THE UNITED STATES.   V-O-A'S JIM 
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.   

TEXT:  PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS EVEN AFTER YEARS OF 
CUTTING ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL, THE UNITED STATES HAS A MUCH MORE 
POWERFUL NUCLEAR FORCE THAN CHINA.

                              /// BACON ACT ///

         THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA IS HUGE.  WE HAVE
         A STRATEGIC NUCLEAR ARSENAL OF ABOUT SIX THOUSAND 
         NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT THIS STAGE, AND THEY HAVE 
         APPROXIMATELY 20 MISSILES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO STRIKE THE
         UNITED STATES.  SO THERE IS A HUGE IMBALANCE.

                         /// END ACT ///

A RECENT DAMAGE ASSESSMENT BY THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 
SAYS CHINA HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK ON ITS OWN NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS, SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH
OF THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITY IS HOME-GROWN AND HOW MUCH WAS 
STOLEN.  SO MR. BACON SAYS THE STOLEN SECRET HAVE NOT PRODUCE AN 
APPARENT CHANGES IN CHINESE NUCLEAR FORCES. 

                        /// BACON ACT ///

         THEY (C-I-A) DID  NOT FIND THAT THEIR PROGRAM TO ACQUIRE
         NUCLEAR SECRETS IN THE U-S HAD RESULTED IN ANY APPARENT 
         MODERNIZATION OF THEIR DEPLOYED STRATEGIC FORCE.  

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT MR. BACON SAYS CHINA IS HARD AT WORK IMPROVING  NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS AND EVERY OTHER KIND OF MILITARY TECHNOLOGY.  

                        /// BACON ACT ///

         THEY (CHINA'S MILITARY) STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN 
         THE SIZE AND THE SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR FORCE.  BUT 
         THEY ARE CLEARLY MAKING AN INVESTMENT TO MODERNIZE THEIR
         FORCE.   

                        /// END ACT /// 

MR. BACON CALLS THE SPY SCANDAL A MATTER OF 'HUGE CONCERN' TO U-S
MILITARY OFFICIALS.  HE SAYS PENTAGON LEADERS ARE COOPERATING IN 
THE INVESTIGATIONS AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO TIGHTEN SECURITY AT 
U-S MILITARY LABORATORIES.   

MR. BACON SAYS THE RECENT FRICTION BETWEEN CHINA AND WASHINGTON 
OVER THE ESPIONAGE CASE HAS PROMPTED DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM 
COHEN TO PUT --  BUT  NOT  CANCEL -- A TRIP TO CHINA PLANNED FOR 
JUNE.   HE SAYS MILITARY-TO-MILITARY CONTACTS WITH CHINA BENEFIT 
BOTH NATIONS BY REDUCING THE CHANCE OF MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE 
FUTURE, AND BY REDUCING THE PERCEIVED NEED FOR A WEAPONS BUILD UP
IN ASIA.  CHINA DENIES IT HAS STOLEN ANY MILITARY SECRETS.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/JR/JO  

25-May-99 5:20 PM EDT (2120 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.