DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249783
TITLE=CHINA / CAPITOL HILL (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A NEW CONGRESSIONAL REPORT SAYS CHINA STOLE SECRET 
INFORMATION ABOUT AMERICA'S MOST SOPHISTICATED NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  
CORRESPONDENT PAULA WOLFSON TELLS US THE REPORT WAS THE WORK OF A
SPECIAL HOUSE COMMITTEE SET UP TO INVESTIGATE TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFERS WITH MILITARY IMPLICATIONS.

TEXT:  COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHRISTOPHER COX SAYS CHINA TRIED TO 
STEAL SECRETS DURING A PERIOD OF DECADES.  HE SAYS CHINESE 
ESPIONAGE MAY BE CONTINUING.

                         /// COX ACT ///

         THE P-R-C HAS MOUNTED A WIDE SPREAD EFFORT TO OBTAIN U-S
         MILITARY TECHNOLOGY BY ANY MEANS: LEGAL OR ILLEGAL.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN LED A BIPARTISAN PANEL SET UP LAST YEAR
BY THEN-SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.  THE ORIGINAL FOCUS WAS 
ALLEGATIONS TWO AMERICAN SATELLITE MANUFACTURERS INADVERTENTLY 
PASSED TECHNOLOGY WITH MILITARY APPLICATIONS TO CHINA.

BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, THE INQUIRY TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN WHEN 
THE COMMITTEE DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OF CHINESE ESPIONAGE AT 
AMERICAN WEAPONS LABORATORIES.

                         /// COX ACT ///

.        AND WHAT WE WERE SAD TO LEARN IS THAT THE PEOPLE'S 
         REPUBLIC OF CHINA HAS STOLEN CLASSIFIED INFORMATION ON 
         EVERY CURRENTLY DEPLOYED WARHEARD IN THE U-S BALLISTIC 
         MISSILE ARSENAL.  THE P-R-C HAS ALSO STOLEN INFORMATION 
         ON THE NEUTRON BOMB, WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT YET
         DEPLOYED.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE LENGTHY REPORT SAYS THE ESPIONAGE TOOK PLACE UNDER FOUR U-S 
PRESIDENTS: CARTER, REAGAN, BUSH AND CLINTON.  THE TOP DEMOCRAT 
ON THE COMMITTEE, NORMAN DICKS OF WASHINGTON STATE, CALLS IT A 
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE FAILURE OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS.

BUT HE PARTS WAYS WITH CHAIRMAN COX ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE 
DONE TO U-S NATIONAL SECURITY.

                        /// DICKS ACT ///

         LET US KEEP THIS REPORT IN PERSPECTIVE.  THE UNITED 
         STATES STILL POSSESSES OVERWHELMING NUCLEAR SUPERIORITY 
         OVER CHINA WITH MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND STRATEGIC NUCLEAR
         WARHEADS CURRENTLY IN OUR INVENTORY, COMPARED TO CHINA'S
         TOTAL OF ABOUT TWO-DOZEN.

                         /// END ACT ///

// OPT //  THE PANEL COMPLETED ITS WORK IN LATE 1998, AT A TIME 
WHEN CONGRESS WAS CONSUMED WITH THE PENDING HOUSE VOTE TO CHARGE 
PRESIDENT CLINTON WITH IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES.  THE FIVE 
REPUBLICANS AND FOUR DEMOCRATS UNANIMOUSLY BACK THE REPORT.  // 
END OPT //

CONGRESSMAN DICKS SAYS THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND: 
THAT NEGLIGENT U-S OFFICIALS CLEARED THE WAY FOR THE ESPIONAGE TO
OCCUR.  HE SAYS THE UNITED MUST MAINTAIN TIES WITH CHINA, BUT IN 
A REALISTIC WAY. 

                        /// DICKS ACT ///

         AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS REPORT CREATE A 
         CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH WE GO TO A COLD WAR SETTING WITH 
         CHINA.  I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT COMES AT A TENSE TIME IN SINO-AMERICAN 
RELATIONS.  CONGRESS IS PREPARING FOR ITS ANNUAL DEBATE ON TRADE 
RELATIONS WITH CHINA, AND JUST HOURS AFTER THE REPORT WAS 
RELEASED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A RESOLUTION 
MARKING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY 
DEMONSTRATORS IN BEIJING'S TIANANMEN SQUARE.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS DENIED CONDUCTING ESPIONAGE AGAINST 
THE UNITED STATES.  OFFICIALS IN BEIJING SAY THE ALLEGATIONS 
AMOUNT TO SLANDER AGAINST CHINA.   (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/RAE

25-May-99 2:37 PM EDT (1837 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.