DATE=4/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / U-S / CHINA (S-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260887
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Defense Secretary William Cohen has told 
Israel the United States opposes the sale of 
sophisticated Israeli radar aircraft to China.  
Correspondent Meredith Buel has details from 
Jerusalem.

TEXT:  Secretary Cohen told Israeli Prime Minister 
Ehud Barak the United States is against Israel's plans 
to sell China AWACS radar aircraft, which could pose a 
threat to Taiwan's air force.

            // COHEN ACT //

      The United States does not support the sale of 
      this type of technology to China because of the 
      potential of changing the strategic balance in 
      that region.  With tensions running as high as 
      they are between China and Taiwan we see this as 
      being counterproductive.

            // END ACT //

Prime Minister Barak says he will take into account U-
S concerns over the arms deal but gave no indication 
Israel plans to cancel the sale of aircraft to China.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin is due to visit Israel 
next week, and discussions regarding weapons sales are 
expected to be on the agenda.   (SIGNED)

NEB/MB/GE/RAE



03-Apr-2000 11:15 AM EDT (03-Apr-2000 1515 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.