DATE=4/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248430
TITLE=CHINA SPY IMPACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  TOP U-S INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS ABSOLUTELY  
NO  DOUBT THAT CHINESE SPIES HAVE STOLEN AMERICAN NUCLEAR-WEAPONS
SECRETS OVER THE PAST DECADE.  A JUST-COMPLETED ASSESSMENT BY THE
U-S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY SAYS THE SPIES DID MORE DAMAGE THAN 
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED.  V-O-A'S 
JIM RANDLE REPORTS.   

TEXT:  AN OFFICIAL FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW ASSESSMENT SAYS SOME 
NUCLEAR-WEAPONS INFORMATION IN CHINESE HANDS COULD HAVE COME ONLY
FROM U-S SOURCES BY ESPIONAGE.

THE OFFICIAL TELLS V-O-A, CHINA LEARNED ABOUT ADVANCED NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS LIKE THE SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED TRIDENT-TWO WARHEAD, THE 
NEUTRON BOMB AND SEVERAL OTHER UNSPECIFIED NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE INFORMATION PROBABLY SPEEDED UP BEIJING'S  
WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, BY KEEPING CHINESE SCIENTISTS FROM WASTING 
TIME AND EFFORT ON UNPRODUCTIVE RESEARCH AREAS.  BUT THE OFFICIAL
SAYS IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE THE STOLEN SECRETS BRING CHANGES TO 
DEPLOYED CHINESE WEAPONS. 

JOHN PIKE OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF SCIENTISTS, A 
NON-GOVERNMENTAL GROUP, STUDIES NUCLEAR ISSUES.  HE SAYS THE 
INFORMATION COULD MAKE THE UNITED STATES MORE VULNERABLE TO 
NUCLEAR ATTACK. 

                        /// PIKE ACT ///

         THE BASIC CONCERN IS THAT RATHER THAN HAVING A SMALL 
         NUMBER OF BIG BOMBS ON BIG ROCKETS, THE CHINESE WOULD 
         WIND UP FIVE OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW WITH A LARGER NUMBER 
         OF SMALLER BOMBS ON SMALLER ROCKETS.  THAT MEANS THAT IT
         IS GOING TO BE HARDER FOR US TO ATTACK CHINESE NUCLEAR 
         FORCES, AND EASIER FOR THE CHINESE TO GET AT LEAST A FEW
         NUCLEAR WEAPONS THROUGH AN AMERICAN ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM.

                         /// END ACT ///

OFFICIALS IN BEIJING HAVE DENIED ALLEGATIONS OF ESPIONAGE.  

MEMBERS OF THE U-S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY ARE BRIEFING PRESIDENT 
CLINTON AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, INCLUDING THE HOUSE AND SENATE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES, ON THE ASSESSMENT. 

ALLEGATIONS THAT HIGHLY-CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WAS STOLEN FROM 
THE LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB SURFACED IN RECENT MONTHS -- 
SETTING OFF A RE-EXAMINATION U-S SECURITY POLICY. 

                        /// REST OPT ///

SOME REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE ACCUSED THE DEMOCRATIC 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OF FAILING TO TAKE PROMPT ACTION TO COPE 
WITH THE LEAKING OF SECRETS.

ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMEN SAY THE MOST SERIOUS SPYING OCCURRED 
YEARS BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK OFFICE IN 1992.  THEY SAY 
THEY HAVE SHARPLY UPGRADED SECURITY AT AMERICAN NUCLEAR-WEAPONS 
LABORATORIES.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/PT/JO/WTW

21-Apr-99 8:54 PM EDT (0054 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.