TEXT: CLINTON STATEMENT ON CHINA NUCLEAR INTELLIGENCE REPORT
(Orders wider study of nuclear weapons data security)

Washington -- President Clinton has ordered the National Counterintelligence Policy Board "to assess potential vulnerabilities at other institutions associated with nuclear weapons besides the National Laboratories."

He also wants the board "to propose any concrete steps that may be appropriate to strengthen protections against efforts by China and other countries to acquire sensitive nuclear weapons information."

Clinton announced these actions in an April 21 statement expressing his appreciation for the work done by the intelligence experts who prepared the assessment of the damage to US security resulting from China's acquisition of nuclear weapons information from National Laboratories. The assessment was requested by the House Select Committee chaired by Representatives Christopher Cox (Republican-California) and Norman Dicks (Democrat-Washington).

Following is the White House text:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 21, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

I welcome the Intelligence Community's Damage Assessment on the "Implications of China's Acquisition of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Information and the Development of Future Chinese Weapons" and the review of the damage assessment by a panel of independent experts led by Admiral Jeremiah, as requested by the House Select Committee, chaired by Congressmen Cox and Dicks. I appreciate the careful analysis by the intelligence community and the independent panel, as well as their efforts to make as much information as possible available to the public on this crucial issue.

The findings of the damage assessment underscore the need to implement fully the Presidential Decision Directive I issued in February 1998 to strengthen security and protections at the U.S. nuclear weapons laboratories. I commend Secretary Richardson for his efforts in this regard and look forward to the review of lab security I requested by the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, chaired by Senator Warren Rudman.

Measures to protect sensitive nuclear weapons information must be constantly scrutinized, whether this information is at the National Laboratories or at other U.S. Government institutions. Therefore, I am asking the National Counterintelligence Policy Board to assess potential vulnerabilities at other institutions associated with nuclear weapons besides the National Laboratories and to propose any concrete steps that may be appropriate to strengthen protections against efforts by China and other countries to acquire sensitive nuclear weapons information.

I have also asked DCI George Tenet to review the recommendations made by Admiral Jeremiah on intelligence collection and resources and to act promptly on these recommendations.

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