DATE=05/26/99
      TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
    NUMBER=6-11309
     TITLE=CHINA / U-S NUCLEAR SECRETS  
    BYLINE=GARY EDQUIST
 TELEPHONE=619-2702
  DATELINE=WASHINGTON
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

CONTENT=

INTRO:  MANY U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE COMMENTING ABOUT THE 
CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ACCUSING CHINA OF STEALING NUCLEAR DATA.  WE
HAVE SOME SAMPLES OF THE EDITORIALS NOW FROM ____________ IN 
TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT:  A LONG ANTICIPATED REPORT (RELEASED TUESDAY) SAYS CHINA IS
DEVELOPING NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS USING ADVANCED DESIGNS STOLEN FROM
THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S.  BEIJING HAS FLATLY 
DENIED THE CHARGES, CALLING THEM A PLOY TO DEMONIZE CHINA.  /// 
OPT /// PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING 
AGGRESSIVELY TO TIGHTEN SECURITY AT NUCLEAR LABORATORIES, AND 
WILL WORK WITH CONGRESS TO STRENGTHEN TECHNOLOGY SAFEGUARDS.  HE 
ALSO SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE DEALING WITH CHINA, 
NOTING THAT BILATERAL RELATIONS ARE IN THE U-S NATIONAL INTEREST.
/// END OPT ///  "THE WASHINGTON POST" WRITES THAT FINDING A 
BALANCE BETWEEN TIGHT SECURITY AND OPENNESS WILL NEVER BE EASY.

VOICE:   THOSE SAME THOUSANDS OF CHINESE WHO REPRESENT AN ALLEGED
         SECURITY THREAT WHILE HERE (IN THE UNITED STATES) ALSO 
         OFFER HOPE FOR WARMER U-S-CHINESE TIES AND BETTER 
         UNDERSTANDING IN THE FUTURE.  CLAMPING DOWN ON 
         INFORMATION FLOWS WITHIN U-S NUCLEAR LABS MIGHT STYMIE 
         (STOP) SOME CHINESE SPIES BUT WOULD ALSO SLOW AMERICAN 
         SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS. ... IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT THE 
         UNITED STATES SHOULD TREAT CHINA AS AN ENEMY.  BUT 
         NEITHER DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO OPEN
         ITS STRATEGIC POCKETS AND ALLOW CHINA TO HELP ITSELF.

TEXT:  THE "OMAHA WORLD HERALD" LABELED ITS EDITORIAL ABOUT THE 
SPY CASE, "AMERICA THE BUMBLING," NOTING:

VOICE:   /// OPT /// IN THE 1950'S, ETHEL AND JULIUS ROSENBERG 
         WERE CONVICTED AND PUT TO DEATH FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE 
         TRANSFER OF H-BOMB SECRETS TO THE SOVIETS.  IF AMERICAN 
         NOWADAYS FEEL ANY COMPARABLE SENSE OF BETRAYAL, IT IS 
         NOT WIDELY EVIDENT. /// END OPT ///   PRESIDENT CLINTON,
         WHOSE MAIN COMMENT ON THE MATTER HAS BEEN CONTRADICTORY 
         AND SELF-SERVING, WAS IN FLORIDA VACATIONING WHEN THE 
         REPORT CAME OUT.  NEVER MIND THAT THIS IS A SITUATION 
         THAT CALLS FOR LEADERSHIP AND REASSURANCE.  THE MOST THE
         PUBLIC GETS FROM ITS PRESIDNET AT THIS LAMENTABLE MOMENT
         IS A DENIAL OF CULPABILITY AND A LAME CLAIM OF HAVING 
         TRIED TO END THE HEMORRHAGING OF SECRETS ONCE IT BECAME 
         KNOWN.

TEXT:  FROM LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, "NEWSDAY" HAS THIS ADVICE 
ABOUT THE THEFT OF NUCLEAR SECRETS.

VOICE:   ...THIS REPORT CAN NOT BE IGNORED.  THE SECURITY 
         BLUNDERS UNCOVERED BY HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) 
         INVESTIGATORS MUST NOT BE REPEATED IF THE UNITED STATES 
         EXPECTS ITS SECRETS TO REMAIN SECRET.  /// OPT /// YES, 
         THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MORE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHAT IT 
         CHOOSES TO CLASSIFY, BUT ONCE THE CHOICE IS MADE, 
         CLASSIFIED MATERIAL MUST BE SHIELDED FAR MORE SECURELY 
         THAN IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES. 
         /// END OPT ///  ... (PRESIDENT) CLINTON AND 
         CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS MAY BE MORTAL ENEMIES, BUT 
         RIGHT NOW THEY BOTH OWE THE NATION A REASONED, 
         BIPARTISAN PLAN TO HEAD OFF FURTHER DAMAGE TO NUCLEAR 
         SECURITY.

TEXT:  IN PORTLAND, OREGON, "THE OREGONIAN" WRITES THAT PERHAPS 
THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECT OF THE REPORT IS ITS EFFECT ON 
AMERICAN POLICIES TOWARD CHINA.  THE NEWSPAPER CONCLUDES THAT 
"NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED."

VOICE:  CONGRESS SOON WILL BEGIN ITS DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO GRANT
CHINA 'MOST FAVORED NATION' TRADING STATUS FOR ANOTHER YEAR.  
ANALYSTS EXPECT IT TO BE APPROVED.  WHY?  WELL, FOR ONE THING, 
CHINA IS TOO BIG TO IGNORE.  /// OPT /// THE POTENTIAL OF CHINESE
MARKETS -- THOUGH UNREALIZED -- REMAINS GREAT.  FOR ANOTHER, AN 
AMERICAN TRADE FEUD WITH CHINA HURTS AMERICAN INTERESTS MORE THAN
IT DOES CHINESE. /// END OPT /// ... AND IT IS CLEAR, THE 
ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO BETTER SORT OUT AMERICAN INTERESTS HERE. 
IT MAY BE THAT PRESIDENTS BUSH AND REAGAN WERE BLIND TO CHINA'S 
ULTERIOR MOTIVES TOWARD US...

TEXT:  FINALLY, THERE IS THIS ADVICE FROM "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES"
ABOUT THE SPY REPORT.

VOICE:   WASHINGTON'S RESPONSE TO WHAT UNDOUBTEDLY IS A MASSIVE 
         BREACH OF SECURITY SHOULD BE TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDS.  
         INTENSIFYING CHINA BASHING AND THREATENING ECONOMIC 
         RETALIATION WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BUT CERTAINLY 
         WOULD WIDEN THE U-S-CHINA BREACH.

TEXT:  WITH THAT COMMENT, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF U-S 
EDITORIAL COMMENT.

NEB/GE/RAE

26-May-99 2:41 PM EDT (1841 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.