DATE=5/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249281
TITLE=U-S CHINA NUKE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-S ENERGY DEPARTMENT IS ASKING CONGRESS 
NOT TO SHUT OFF CONTACTS WITH FOREIGN SCIENTISTS, IN THE WAKE OF 
THE SPY CASE AT A NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB.  BUT AS V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN
REPORTS, LAWMAKERS ARE STILL ATTACKING THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING 
OF THE MATTER AND DEMANDING CHANGES.

TEXT: ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON CONCEDES HIS AGENCY WAS  
NOT  WATCHFUL ENOUGH AT A TIME WHEN SCIENTIST WEN HO LEE WAS 
ALLEGEDLY PASSING SECRETS TO CHINA.  BUT THE SECRETARY IS TRYING 
TO HEAD OFF WHAT HE CALLS AN OVERREACTION IN CONGRESS - A CALL 
FOR A FREEZE IN FOREIGN VISITS TO AMERICA'S NUCLEAR LABORATORIES.

IN A WASHINGTON SPEECH (WEDNESDAY), MR. RICHARDSON WARNED THIS 
WOULD SHUT DOWN VITAL JOINT PROJECTS IN COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIA AND
WILL HURT RATHER THAN HELP U-S NATIONAL INTERESTS.

                      // RICHARDSON ACT //

         WE WANT INDIAN SCIENTISTS TO KNOW ABOUT ARMS CONTROL AND
         NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION AND OTHER MEASURES THAT DEAL 
         WITH NUCLEAR SECURITY.  WE WANT RUSSIA TO KNOW ABOUT THE
         BEST NUCLEAR SAFETY.

                          // END ACT //

MR. RICHARDSON IS ALREADY REVAMPING THE DEPARTMENT'S SECURITY TO 
GUARD AGAINST FUTURE BREAKDOWNS. STILL, OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS 
REMAIN SKEPTICAL AND ACCUSE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OF 
BOTCHING THE LEE CASE.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR FRANK MURKOWSKI REACTED SHARPLY (WEDNESDAY) 
WHEN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS DECLINED TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE 
MATTER IN PUBLIC. 

                       // MURKOWSKI ACT //

         WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND THIS VEIL OF SECRECY
         - IS IT INCOMPETENCE?  IT CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A
         SECURE ROOM TO UNCOVER INCOMPETENCE.

                          // END ACT //

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND MR. LEE BOTH DENY SPYING.  WHILE HE IS
NOT FORMALLY CHARGED, AUTHORITIES BELIEVE HE PROVIDED BEIJING 
WITH TOP-SECRET NUCLEAR WARHEAD DATA.  OFFICIALS SAY HE ALSO 
MOVED A HUGE AMOUNT OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION FROM A SECURE 
COMPUTER NETWORK TO AN OPEN (COMPUTER) SYSTEM.  THE LATEST 
REVELATIONS ABOUT THE CASE SUGGEST CHINA ALSO OBTAINED RADAR 
TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD HELP THE CHINESE NAVY TRACK AMERICAN 
SUBMARINES. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/ENE/GE

12-May-99 2:19 PM EDT (1819 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.