DATE=4/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248811
TITLE=CHINA SPYING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS VOWED TO FIGHT AGAINST AN 
ATTEMPT BY CONGRESS TO HALT U-S SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION WITH CHINA
AND CERTAIN OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES, IN THE WAKE OF A SPY SCANDAL
AT AN AMERICAN NUCLEAR LABORATORY.  ENERGY SECRETARY BILL 
RICHARDSON SPOKE TO A GROUP OF ASIAN-AMERICANS ABOUT THE ISSUE 
TODAY (FRIDAY) IN NEW YORK.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON 
REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.  

TEXT:  SECRETARY RICHARDSON ADDRESSED THE FEARS OF 
ASIAN-AMERICANS THAT THEIR GROUP WOULD BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, 
ESPECIALLY THOSE HOLDING SENSITIVE NATIONAL-SECURITY JOBS.  
ASIAN-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS BEGAN VOICING CONCERN AFTER ONE OF 
THEIR OWN, WEN HO LEE, WAS FIRED FROM HIS JOB AT LOS ALAMOS 
LABORATORY IN CALIFORNIA (ON MARCH EIGHTH).

MR. LEE IS SUSPECTED OF SPYING FOR CHINA.  HE IS SAID TO HAVE 
TRANSFERRED SECRET DATA ON U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO THE GOVERNMENT 
IN BEIJING.  THE CHINESE-AMERICAN SCIENTIST, BORN IN TAIWAN, HAS 
NOT  BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED.  HE DENIES ALL ALLEGATIONS.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, HOWEVER, HAS BIGGER PROBLEMS RELATED 
TO THE LEE CASE THAN PREVENTING ON-THE-JOB DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
AN ETHNIC GROUP.  SOME IN THE U-S CONGRESS ARE TRYING TO LIMIT, 
OR BLOCK, SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN NATIONALS.  A BILL 
HAS ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED ON CAPITOL HILL THAT WOULD PREVENT 
FOREIGN VISITS TO EVEN UNCLASSIFIED SECTIONS OF U-S LABORATORIES.

SECRETARY RICHARDSON SAYS HE WILL FIGHT WHAT HE CALLS A 
XENOPHOBIC REACTION IN CONGRESS.  HE CALLS IT MISGUIDED, POINTING
OUT THAT WHATEVER DANGER EXISTED TO THE SECRETS OF THE LOS ALAMOS
NUCLEAR LABORATORY CAME FROM WITHIN:

                  /// FIRST RICHARDSON ACT ///

         THE INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION WAS A LAB EMPLOYEE, NOT AN 
         OUTSIDE VISITOR.  THEREFORE THIS IS ALL SO STARTLINGLY 
         MISCONSTRUED AND SHORT-SIGHTED, AND IT IS WRONG.  AND I 
         WILL FIGHT EVERY EFFORT IN CONGRESS TO STEM AMERICA'S 
         SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

                         /// END ACT ///

SECRETARY RICHARDSON CONCEDES THE RISKS OF OPENING LABORATORIES 
TO OUTSIDE POWERS THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN BUILDING THEIR OWN 
WEAPONS CAPABILITIES.  BUT HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES CAN REMAIN 
OPEN TO FOREIGN SCIENTISTS AND STILL SAFEGUARD ITS INTERESTS:

                  /// SECOND RICHARDSON ACT ///

         THE RIGHT WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS THROUGH STRONG 
         SECURITY AND COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS, AND WE'RE 
         DOING THIS.  THE WRONG WAY WOULD BE TO DRAW AN IRON 
         CURTAIN AROUND THE LAB.  THAT WON'T GUARANTEE SECURITY. 
         BUT IT WOULD ENSURE THE EROSION OF THE VITAL SCIENTIFIC 
         FOUNDATION THAT KEEPS OUR NATION STRONG.

                         /// END ACT ///

CONGRESS IS DUE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON THE SECURITY ISSUE.  SOME U-S
OFFICIALS ANTICIPATE A BRUISING AND LONG DEBATE.  KEY REPUBLICAN 
LEGISLATORS HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THEY OPPOSE DOING ANY KIND OF 
BUSINESS WITH CHINA.  WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE ON THE POTENTIAL 
EXCLUSION LIST -- RUSSIA, INDIA AND PAKISTAN -- CHINA IS THE MAIN
TARGET.   (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/WTW

30-Apr-99 4:47 PM EDT (2047 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.