DATE=5/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249756
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / SPYING (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  CHINA HAS REJECTED, AS UNFOUNDED, A U-S CONGRESSIONAL 
REPORT THAT SAYS BEIJING STOLE U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS DURING THE 
PAST 20-YEARS IN AN EFFORT TO MODERNIZE ITS ATOMIC ARSENAL.  AS 
WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON, CHINA SAYS THE REPORT 
BY A SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE IS AIMED AT STIRRING UP 
ANTI-CHINESE FEELINGS AMONG AMERICANS.

TEXT:  CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO -- SPEAKING
THROUGH AN  INTERPRETER -- SAYS THE CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON 
CHINESE ESPIONAGE WAS DRAWN UP BY PEOPLE WHO STILL HAVE A 
COLD-WAR MENTALITY.  HE SAYS THE AIM OF THE REPORT IS TO SLANDER 
CHINA AND DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE EMBASSY BOMBING. 

                /// OPT INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///

 SOME PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES MAKE SOME UNFOUNDED 
COUNTERCHARGES, INTENSIFYING THEIR EFFORTS TO WHIP UP THIS 
NUCLEAR ESPIONAGE CASE, AND THEY ARE DOING SO WITH ULTERIOR 
MOTIVES WITH THE INTENTION OF WHIPPING UP THE CHINA THREAT THEORY
AND ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENTS TO DEFLECT CHINESE PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. 
THEIR DESPICABLE ATTEMPT IS DOOMED TO FAILURE.

                    /// END OPT ACTUALITY ///

CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS ARE EVEN SUGGESTING THE 
PANEL'S CONCLUSIONS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT AMERICAN ESPIONAGE IN 
CHINA.  WHILE DENYING ANY SPYING ON THE UNITED STATES, THEY ASK 
HOW U-S INTELLIGENCE COULD HAVE OBTAINED THE INFORMATION 
CONTAINED IN THE REPORT IF NOT THROUGH ITS OWN ESPIONAGE EFFORTS.

THE REPORT ON CHINESE ESPIONAGE AT U-S WEAPONS LABORATORIES COMES
AS RELATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING ARE GOING THROUGH ONE
OF THEIR  ROUGHEST MOMENTS IN RECENT YEARS.  

JUST THREE-WEEKS AGO, NATO AIRCRAFT BOMBED THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN
YUGOSLAVIA, SPARKING VIOLENT ANTI-AMERICAN  DEMONSTRATIONS IN 
CHINA.  WASHINGTON APOLOGIZED, SAYING THE BOMBING WAS THE RESULT 
OF ERRONEOUS INTELLIGENCE.  BUT BEIJING SAYS PUBLICLY IT IS STILL
UNCONVINCED THAT THE ATTACK WAS NOT DELIBERATE.

SPOKESMAN ZHU ALSO HAD HARSH WORDS FOR THE APPROVAL BY JAPAN'S 
PARLIAMENT, THE DIET, OF BILLS STRENGTHENING DEFENSE TIES BETWEEN
TOKYO AND WASHINGTON.  THE BILLS WOULD ALLOW JAPAN'S MILITARY TO 
GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO U-S FORCES IN A REGIONAL CRISIS.  BUT CHINA 
FEARS ANY RESURGENCE OF JAPANESE MILITARISM, AND MR. ZHU SAYS 
JAPAN SHOULD HONOR ITS CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT NOT TO BECOME A 
MILITARY POWER.  

CHINA OPPOSES ANY ATTEMPT BY THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO 
DEFEND TAIWAN, WHICH BEIJING REGARDS AS A  RENEGADE PROVINCE.  
CHINA HAS REFUSED TO RULE OUT THE USE OF FORCE TO REUNITE THE 
ISLAND WITH THE MAINLAND.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RW/FC/RAE

25-May-99 7:56 AM EDT (1156 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.