*EPF314 07/19/00
Transcript: Senator Helms July 18 on China Weapons Proliferation
(Proliferation by China threatens U.S. national security) (420)

Proliferation by China, particularly of deadly chemical and nuclear-tipped missiles, threatens U.S. national security, according to Senator Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

During a hearing on the national security implications of granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to China July 18, Helms chided the Clinton administration for not enforcing existing laws that cover proliferation vis-a-vis China.

"Take for instance the fact that the CIA has said with 100 PERCENT CERTAINTY that China gave nuclear-tipped M-11 missiles to Pakistan, but the MTCR [Missile Technology Control Regime] law has never been implemented for this transfer," he said.

Helms made his comments in reference to legislation introduced by Senators Fred Thompson (Republican of Tennessee) and Robert Torricelli (Democrat of New Jersey) which, if passed, would monitor China's proliferation activities and penalize those entities which support such activities.

Following is a transcript of Helms' closing statement:

(begin transcript)

CLOSING STATEMENT BY SENATOR HELMS
ON THOMPSON-TORRICELLI LEGISLATION

Hearing on Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status for Communist China:
National Security Implications

July 18, 2000

MR. HELMS. Now, I have listened to the discussion regarding the Thompson-Torricelli legislation. I think it is premature to speculate on that bill, since Senator Thompson is in the process of negotiating with the Administration on the text of his proposal.

However, I suspect we all would agree that proliferation by China, particularly of deadly chemical and nuclear-tipped missiles, threatens U.S. national security.

The existing laws that cover proliferation are meant to enhance the Administration's leverage in dealing with nations such as China. Unfortunately, this Administration spends all of its time covering up instances of proliferation, apologizing for China, and dodging the existing laws. The President himself said that he "fudges the facts" to avoid implementing U.S. law.

Take for instance the fact that the CIA has said with 100 PERCENT CERTAINTY that China gave nuclear-tipped M-11 missiles to Pakistan, but the MTCR law has never been implemented for this transfer. Never.

So the fact that some laws exist does not obscure the fact that those laws are being ignored, or broken.

Senator Thompson is working to refocus the Administration on its legal obligation to pursue Chinese nonproliferation. He is well within his Constitutional authority to do so, and I applaud him for it.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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