DATE=5/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232127
TITLE=CHINA/ INDIA TEST (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ALTHOUGH SUSPICIONS STILL LINGER BETWEEN NEIGHBORING 
GIANTS, CHINA AND INDIA, BEIJING'S REACTION TO MONDAY'S INDIAN 
NUCLEAR TESTS HAS BEEN RELATIVELY MILD.  CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE 
HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING, A CAREFULLY-WORDED CHINESE PROTEST WAS 
CARRIED BY OFFICIAL MEDIA, BUT IT WAS NOT AS STRONG AS CRITICISM 
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

TEXT:  COMPARED WITH THE ANGRY AND VOCAL INTERNATIONAL REACTION, 
CHINA DOWNPLAYED ITS RESPONSE TO THE INDIAN NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.

THE COUNTRY'S MAIN NEWSPAPER, "THE PEOPLE'S DAILY", (WEDNESDAY) 
CARRIED THE GOVERNMENT'S BRIEF, ONE-PARAGRAPH STATEMENT ON THE 
LAST PAGE.  ON THE FOURTH PAGE, THE PEOPLE'S DAILY RAN A PICTURE 
OF THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCING THE NUCLEAR BLASTS AND 
AND REPORTED ON INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ALSO APPEARED IN A SMALL BOX ON 
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE "CHINA DAILY" NEWSPAPER, 
BUT IT ALSO GAVE A ROUND-UP OF MUCH STRONGER OPINION FROM OTHER 
COUNTRIES.

THE MAIN CENTRAL TELEVISION NEWSCAST WEDNESDAY ALSO PLAYED UP 
REACTION FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND THE UNITED NATIONS, BUT SAID 
NOTHING ABOUT CHINA'S POSITION.

   // TELEVISION ANNOUNCER IN CHINESE -- IN FULL, FADE OUT //

U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN'S EXPRESSION OF REGRET WAS AMONG
THE OPINIONS HIGHLIGHTED BY CHINESE MEDIA.  THE NEWSCAST ALSO 
REPORTED THE VIEW OF CHINA'S LONG-TIME FRIEND PAKISTAN THAT THE 
INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS HAVE CREATED A THREAT TO REGIONAL STABILITY.

CHINA'S MUTED REACTION COMES DESPITE A HISTORY OF TENSIONS 
BETWEEN THETWO COUNTRIES.  RECENTLY, INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTER 
GEORGE FERNANDES, CALLED CHINA A MILITARY THREAT TO INDIA.

STATE-RUN CHINESE MEDIA QUOTE AN OFFICIAL AT CHINA'S EMBASSY IN 
NEW DELHI AS SAYING THESE KINDS OF COMMENTS UNDERMINE THE 
ATMOSPHERE FOR IMPROVING SINO-INDIAN TIES.  THE OFFICIAL ALSO 
CALLED THE COMMENTS A GROUNDLESS ACCUSATION, SAYING THEY HAVE 
HURT THE FEELINGS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE.

CHINA AND INDIA FOUGHT A WAR IN 1962, AND PARTS OF THE BORDER 
BETWEEN THE TWO GIANT NEIGHBORS ARE STILL UNDER DISPUTE.  THE 
CHINESE EMBASSY OFFICIAL IN NEW DELHI IS QUOTED AS SAYING CHINA 
HOPES THE TWO SIDES WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK WHAT HE CALLED FAIR AND
REASONABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE BORDER DISPUTE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/HO/GC/FC/RAE

13-May-98 7:43 AM EDT (1143 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.