DATE=5/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249845
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA NUKE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO :   CONTROVERSY CONTINUES IN WASHINGTON OVER THE ALLEGED 
CHINESE SPYING CAMPAIGN DESCRIBED BY A LENGTHY CONGRESSIONAL 
REPORT.  THE SENATE IS CONSIDERING HOW TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AND
TIGHTEN CONTROLS OVER EXPORTS - AND THE ENTIRE DEBATE IS TAKING 
ON A MORE PARTISAN TONE.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT:   WITH THE REPORT NOW PUBLIC, CONGRESS MUST DECIDE WHAT TO 
DO ABOUT ITS CONCLUSIONS - THAT CHINA PILFERED AND PUT TO USE 
MANY OF THE NATION'S MOST VALUABLE MILITARY SECRETS.

IN TESTIMONY TO HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES (WEDNESDAY), THE 
LAWMAKERS WHO INVESTIGATED THE MATTER SPOKE OF WIDE-RANGING 
ESPIONAGE AND SECURITY BREACHES.  THE HEAD OF THE INVESTIGATING 
PANEL, REPUBLICAN CHRISTOPHER COX, SAYS THERE WAS LITTLE SECURITY
FOR AMERICAN SATELLITE LAUNCHES ON CHINESE ROCKETS. 

                            // COX ACT //

         THESE PINKERTON (COMPANY) PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS WOULD 
         SHOW UP FOR WORK DRUNK, THEY WOULD SHOW UP FOR NIGHT 
         DUTY WITH SLEEPING BAGS, AND THEY WERE MORE INTERESTED 
         IN SPENDING TIME WITH PROSTITUTES - PROVIDED FOR THEM BY
         THE PRC GOVERNMENT NO DOUBT -THAN IN DOING THEIR JOBS.  
          

                          // END ACT //

IN RESPONSE, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING FOR STRONGER CONTROLS
ON EXPORTS OF SATELLITES OR OTHER SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY.  THE PLAN
WOULD ALSO BOLSTER COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY CHECKS AT 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABS, WHERE THE REPORT SAYS CHINA STOLE DESIGN 
INFORMATION ON ALL AMERICA'S WARHEADS.  

MAJORITY LEADER TRENTLOTT ARGUES THESE ARE MODEST STEPS WHICH 
SHOULD BE TAKEN QUICKLY.     

                         // LOTT ACT //

         THESE ARE PIECES THAT I THINK SENATORS COULD AGREE ON 
         ACROSS THE BOARD. THEY ARE TARGETED AT DEALING WITH THE 
         PROBLEM, NOT TRYING TO FIX BLAME, NOT CLAIMING THAT THIS
         IS GOING TO SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS.  BUT THESE ARE SOME 
         THINGS WE CAN DO NOW.  

                           // END ACT //

THOUGH THE REPORT IS A BIPARTISAN PRODUCT, THE REACTION HAS 
FALLEN MAINLY ALONG PARTY LINES.  REPUBLICANS SAY THE LOSS OF 
SECRETS MAY BE THE WORST IN HISTORY AND HIGH-RANKING PRESIDENTIAL
AIDES SHOULD BE FIRED.  DEMOCRATS, LIKE SENATE MINORITY LEADER 
TOM DASCHLE, SAY THESE CHARGES ARE EXAGGERATED.      

                        // DASCHLE ACT //

         I THINK ITS HYPERBOLE AT ITS WORST.  AND I'M NOT 
         SURPRISED THAT REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE TAKEN A SHELLACKING 
         IN RECENT WEEKS ON AN ARRAY OF ISSUES ARE TRYING TO FIND
         ONE FOR THEMSELVES. 

                            // END ACT //

THE ADMINISTRATION IS HOPING THE FALLOUT WILL NOT SPILL OVER TOO 
FAR INTO THE BROADER RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA.  BUT SOME MEMBERSOF
CONGRESS ARGUE THE TIES ARE ALREADY BADLY STRAINED. 

IN A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, FOUR LAWMAKERS URGE HIM TO SUSPEND 
NEGOTIATIONS FOR CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION.
THE GROUP, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMEN OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE 
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEES, SAY THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE 
WELL-SERVED BY A "TIME-OUT." (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/PT

26-May-99 7:27 PM EDT (2327 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.