DATE=5/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250000
TITLE=U-S NUCLEAR SPYING (S & L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S ENERGY SECRETARY SAYS HE WILL SOON FIRE SOME 
EMPLOYEES IN THE WAKE OF ALLEGATIONS ABOUT CHINESE SPYING AT 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABS.  CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS ON THE 
CONTINUING DEBATE OVER THE ISSUE.

TEXT:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INSISTS IT HAS TIGHTENED 
SECURITY TO STOP ANY NEW THEFT OF SECRETS.  APPEARING ON N-B-C 
TELEVISION ("MEET THE PRESS"), ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON 
SAYS THERE WILL BE FURTHER STEPS, INCLUDING THE FIRING AND 
DEMOTION OF THOSE TO BLAME FOR PAST LOSSES. 

                      // RICHARDSON ACT //

         THERE WERE COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWNS. THERE WERE 
         INCOMPETENT ACTS.  SECURITY WAS NOT CONSIDERED IMPORTANT
         AND COUNTERINTELLIGENCE WAS NOT CONSIDERED AS IMPORTANT 
         AS IT SHOULD BE.

                          // END ACT //

CHINA HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED SPYING.  BUT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN 
CHRISTOPHER COX, WHO LED THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CASE, SAYS 
BEIJING DOES NOT HAVE AMERICA'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

                          // COX ACT //

         WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IN MANY RESPECTS, DESPITE THE 
         NEW ECONOMIC FREEDOMS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA,
         THEY REMAIN A POLICE STATE.

                          // END ACT //

SECRETARY RICHARDSON CONFIRMS A (NEWSWEEK) REPORT THAT AN INDIAN 
SCIENTIST WAS DISMISSED FROM AN AMERICAN NUCLEAR LAB.  BUT HE 
SAYS THAT CASE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPYING.

                 /// REST OPTIONAL FOR LONG ///

MR. RICHARDSON SAYS THE MAN HAD TIES TO AN INDIAN NUCLEAR 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND HIS EXPULSION WAS TRIGGERED BY SANCTIONS 
THE U-S GOVERNMENT IMPOSED AFTER INDIA TESTED A NUCLEAR DEVICE.

                      // RICHARDSON ACT //

         ONE OR TWO OTHERS WERE ALSO EXPELLED FROM SOME OF OUR 
         SCIENCE LABS.  BUT IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF ESPIONAGE.  IT 
         WAS BECAUSE INDIA TOOK THAT NEGATIVE STEP IN DETONATING 
         THAT WEAPON LAST YEAR.

                          // END ACT //

THE PRIME SUSPECT IN THE CHINESE ESPIONAGE CASE, WEN HO LEE, HAS 
ALSO BEEN FIRED FROM THE LOS ALAMOS LAB, BUT HAS YET TO BE 
FORMALLY CHARGED.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/RAE

30-May-99 1:27 PM EDT (1727 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.