Title:  "US Considering Sanctions Against China for Missile Sales." The US is considering whether to impose sanctions against China for allegedly selling missile technology to Pakistan. (930824)

Author:  BENSON, DON (VOA CORRESPONDENT)
Date:  19930824

Text:
*EPF204 08/24/93 *

U.S. CONSIDERING SANCTIONS AGAINST CHINA FOR MISSILE SALES (VOA correspondent report on State Dept. statement) (340) By Don Benson VOA Correspondent Washington -- The United States is considering whether to impose sanctions against China for allegedly selling missile technology to Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the State Department August 24, a decision could be made soon.

The State Department statement repeated what it called deep U.S. concern about reports of Chinese missile technology transfers. It said U.S. officials are reviewing the evidence to determine if sanctions against China are warranted.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher and others have repeatedly raised concerns with Chinese officials about the missile issue.

U.S. intelligence reports indicate Beijing has sold M-11 missile technology to Pakistan in violation of international agreements, but China has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, a separate U.S. dispute with China has members of the U.S. Congress expressing concern. The Clinton administration believes a Chinese freighter headed for inspection in Saudi Arabia is loaded with chemical weapons materials that were to be delivered to Iran. A joint Chinese-Saudi team will inspect the vessel after it arrives at a Saudi port on August 26.

Representative Dan Glickman, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, just returned from a trip to Beijing that included talks with Chinese officials about arms sales abroad. He says the Chinese consistently denied selling chemical weapons.

"We'll be able to determine in that inspection whether there are chemical weapons there (on the ship) and then we'll have to determine whether the Chinese government actively knew this or was negligent, or whether their system does not really permit really good controls. If the Chinese are aggressively and affirmatively selling chemical weapons overseas, particularly to the Iranians, that would present very serious problems," Glickman said.

Glickman and other lawmakers who recently visited China said they warned Beijing that all of these allegations could adversely affect China's trade status with the United States when it comes up for review early next year.

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