-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">
</A> -Cui Bono?-
"A provision of the fiscal 2000 defense authorization signed by President
Clinton in October is aimed at preventing Chinese military intelligence from
gathering defense technology through the Pentagon's military-to-military
program with China."
What more information do they need?
Hilary
January 24, 2000
<http://www.washtimes.com/national/nation2-01242000.htm>
Pentagon, PLA to resume military exchanges today
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Meetings between Pentagon officials and a senior Chinese general this
week will be the first test of a new law restricting U.S. exchanges with the
People's Liberation Army.
A provision of the fiscal 2000 defense authorization signed by
President Clinton in October is aimed at preventing Chinese military
intelligence from gathering defense technology through the Pentagon's
military-to-military program with China.
People's Liberation Army (PLA) Lt. Gen. Xiong Guankai, deputy chief of
staff for intelligence, arrives here today to begin three days of meetings
in the first military exchanges since Beijing broke off military exchanges
after NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade last May.
Gen. Xiong is scheduled to meet Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and
other senior Pentagon officials, according to defense officials.
A senior Clinton administration official said the talks are not
expected to produce dramatic progress in military relations, which in the
past have included visits to both countries by officials, ships and
aircraft.
Gen. Xiong is expected to criticize U.S. plans to sell advanced
weaponry to Taiwan and also will oppose U.S. missile defense efforts.
Defense officials say he also will ask for the names and punishment of the
CIA officials blamed for giving NATO war planners the incorrect bombing
coordinates for the Chinese Embassy.
The general and other visiting PLA military officials also will be
honored at private banquets sponsored by the Nixon Center, a think tank, the
Pentagon and the Chinese Embassy through Wednesday.Some Pentagon officials
hope the talks will open up the Chinese military to a visit to China later
this year by Mr. Cohen. The defense secretary had planned to visit China
last year, but the embassy bombing forced the trip to be canceled.
"This is part of an effort, obviously, to rebuild our relationship
after the mistaken attack," Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon told reporters.
"It is an effort to rebuild contacts and discussions between the U.S. and
the Chinese militaries."
The guidelines limiting military exchanges with China were produced by
Sen. Robert C. Smith, New Hampshire Republican, following reports last year
that China obtained strategic technology covertly from the United States.
The so-called Smith Guidelines state that Mr. Cohen may not authorize
any military exchanges involving force projection operations, nuclear
operations, advanced combined arms and joint combat operations, logistics
activities, chemical and biological defenses, surveillance and
reconnaissance operations.
It also restricts the Pentagon from discussing any activities related
to joint war-fighting experiments, military space issues, advanced military
capabilities, arms sales and weapons technology. The guidelines also
restrict any access by Chinese officials to Pentagon laboratories.
The Pentagon views the military exchanges with China as part of the
administration's diplomacy toward Beijing and has said they do not involve
technology transfers.
The Chinese regard the exchanges as a way to obtain militarily useful
technology. Past exchanges have included Chinese military delegation visits
to sensitive facilities, conferences on military logistics and
demonstrations of military air traffic control.
A report by the National Counterintelligence Center, an interagency
security group located at CIA headquarters, warned in a report that China is
continuing efforts to gather technology overseas.
China's official Xinhua news agency in August stated that the Chinese
Communist Party Central Committee and State Council announced plans to
intensify "foreign cooperation" in technology innovation, primarily with the
help of ethnic Chinese living or working abroad, the report states.
Mr. Cohen's last visit to China took place in January 1998 when he was
permitted to visit an aging air defense site. Some Pentagon officials
complained that the Chinese refused to allow the defense secretary to visit
more advanced military facilities.
Leading the so-called "defense consultative talks" will be
Undersecretary of Defense Walter Slocombe.
"Discussions will cover a wide range of areas. We will compare our
strategic assessments of the 21st century," Mr. Bacon said. "We will talk
about the geopolitical conditions in the Asia-Pacific, about military
modernization programs in the two countries, what sort of military
relationship we should have during the year 2000."
The Pentagon is considering the sale of four Aegis destroyers to Taiwan
that could be used for missile defenses.
The ships and at least six other weapons systems are on Taiwan's
request list made last year.
China is opposing the destroyer sale because of its opposition to
missile defenses. Aegis ships will be the heart of the Navy's theater-wide
sea-based missile defense and could be used by Taiwan against China's
growing force of short-range missiles, many of which are targeted against
the island.
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
