DATE=5/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249833
TITLE=CONGRESS-CHINA (L-ONLY) 
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CONGRESS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CONGRESSMEN WHO LED AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO CHINESE 
ESPIONAGE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE BRIEFING COLLEAGUES ON THEIR 
FINDINGS.  V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THEY ARE URGING MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) AND SENATE TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION
TO TIGHTEN EXPORT CONTROLS ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS WITH MILITARY 
APPLICATIONS.

TEXT:  THE SPECIAL PANEL SET UP TO INVESTIGATE CHINESE ESPIONAGE 
HAS COMPLETED ITS WORK, AND ITS MEMBERS ARE CALLING ON CONGRESS 
TO ACT QUICKLY.

THE FOCUS NOW MOVES TO THE REGULAR COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATURE,
WHICH MUST DRAFT THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION.  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE, (NEW YORK) REPUBLICAN 
BENJAMIN GILMAN, SAYS A BILL TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON EXPORTS OF 
HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTERS IS A PRIORITY.

                       /// GILMAN ACT ///

         WE DO HAVE A PROVISION IN OUR SECURITY ASSISTANCE BILL, 
         ALREADY APPROVED BY THIS COMMITTEE AND AWAITING FLOOR 
         ACTION, THAT REESTABLISHES HIGHER PENALTIES FOR 
         VIOLATION OF THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT.

                         /// END ACT ///

(CALIFORNIA) CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER COX, WHO LED THE INQUIRY 
INTO CHINESE SPYING, SAYS THIS BILL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 
STEPS CONGRESS CAN TAKE.  BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES SUCH ACTION WILL 
HAVE LITTLE IMPACT UNLESS THE UNITED STATES CAN CONVINCE ITS 
ALLIES TO GO ALONG.

                         /// COX ACT ///

ANYTHING ELSE WE DO WILL BE INEFFECTIVE IF WE TRY AND GO IT 
ALONE.  THE UNITED STATES IS  NOT  THE WORLD.  WE CAN HELP LEAD 
THE WORLD, BUT EVEN AS BIG AS OUR ECONOMY IS, THERE ARE OTHERS 
WHO WILL FILL IN THE GAPS.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. COX CHAIRED AN INVESTIGATORY PANEL MADE UP OF NINE LAWMAKERS,
FIVE REPUBLICANS AND FOUR DEMOCRATS.  BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THEY 
WORKED IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION AND PRODUCED A REPORT ALL COULD 
ENDORSE.

BUT POLITICAL PASSIONS REMAIN A FACT OF LIFE ELSEWHERE ON CAPITOL
HILL.  WHEN MR. COX AND THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE CHINA 
INQUIRY, NORMAN DICKS, WENT BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA (TODAY/WEDNESDAY), TENSIONS WERE HIGH.

ALL THE LAWMAKERS IN THE ROOM PRAISED THEIR REPORT.  BUT THEY 
DIFFERED ON WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THE ESPIONAGE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT
BREACH OF U-S SECURITY.

ALTHOUGH THE THEFT OF MILITARY SECRETS APPARENTLY OCCURRED OVER 
DECADES, SOME REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE FAILINGS OF 
THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE.  THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE ASIA 
SUBCOMMITTEE, TOM LANTOS (OF CALIFORNIA), SAYS THE WORK OF THE 
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS DESERVES A MORE DIGNIFIED RESPONSE.

                       /// LANTOS ACT ///

         I DEEPLY REGRET THAT THEIR OUTSTANDING JOB IS BEING 
         OVERSHADOWED BY SOME OF THE SHABBIEST, CHEAPEST, MOST 
         EXTREME AND OUTRAGEOUS PARTISAN INTERPRETATIONS OF THEIR
         VERY BIPARTISAN INVESTIGATION.

                         /// END ACT ///

(CALIFORNIA) REPUBLICAN DANA ROHRABACHER SAID THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE SINGLED OUT.  HE SAYS TOP OFFICIALS 
ENGAGED IN A COVER-UP.

                     /// ROHRABACHER ACT ///

         THE ONLY THING CHEAP AND VULGAR THAT I HAVE WITNESSED 
         HAS BEEN THE DEMOLITION OF OUR COUNTRY'S NATIONAL 
         SECURITY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE AUTHORS OF THE REPORT ON CHINESE ESPIONAGE SAID THEY HOPED 
THEIR FINDINGS WOULD  NOT  IGNITE PARTISAN BICKERING.  
CONGRESSMAN COX URGED MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES TO REMEMBER THEY 
ARE IN AGREEMENT ON TWO POINTS:  THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND IT MUST 
BE FIXED.   (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/LTD/WTW

26-May-99 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.