DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243217
TITLE=CHINA / IRAQ (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  CHINA CONTINUES ITS SHARP CRITICISM OF U-S AIR STRIKES ON
IRAQ.  AS VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE OFFICIAL 
PEOPLE'S DAILY NEWSPAPER FRIDAY CALLED THE ATTACKS, "A DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT."

TEXT:  A COMMENTARY IN CHINA'S MAIN NEWSPAPER, THE PEOPLE'S 
DAILY, BLASTS THE U-S AIR STRIKES.

IN THE WORDS OF THE CHINESE PAPER, THE UNILATERAL MOVE BY THE 
UNITED STATES HAS SET A DANGEROUS AND ODIOUS PRECEDENT.  THE 
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY SAYS THE MILITARY ACTION 
SHOCKED THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THE NEWSPAPER ASSERTS THE ATTACK WAS BASED ON A FLAWED REPORT BY 
UNITED NATIONS CHIEF ARMS INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER.  IT SAYS THE
UNSCOM REPORT PROVIDED AN EXCUSE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO ACT 
WITHOUT A LEGAL BASIS.

REACTING WITH UNCHARACTERISTIC SPEED, CHINA STROOGLY CONDEMNED 
THE  U-S STRIKES SHORTLY AFTER THEY BEGAN ON THURSDAY.  CHINESE 
PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN SENT A  MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON URGING
AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE MILITARY OPERATION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/HO/FC/WFR

17-Dec-98 10:24 PM EST (0324 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.