[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 38 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1767-H1768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 QUESTIONS REGARDING CHINESE EXPORT OF MISSILES AND NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year I stood in this Chamber 
and expressed my concern regarding the administration's certification 
that China had provided clear and unequivocal assurances that it was 
not either directly or indirectly assisting nonnuclear weapon states, 
and the states that I used as an example were Pakistan and Iran, in the 
acquisition of nuclear explosive devices. I had pointed out that this 
was the first time in 12 years that a U.S. President had granted such a 
certification.
  Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the administration officials in China 
reaffirmed their claim that China had kept its pledge. They had 
accepted the Chinese assurances that they have not helped Iran build 
nuclear weapons. They were, however, concerned about Chinese missile 
sales to Tehran. They also declined to discuss a foiled plan by a 
Chinese firm to sell Iran a chemical that could be used in the 
enrichment of uranium for nuclear weapons.
  Sources have said that the meeting between the administration and the 
Chinese Government was to work out an agreement to give China access to 
Washington's more advanced missile technology if the Chinese agree not 
to export missiles to Iran and Pakistan.
  Mr. Speaker, I must express tonight my concern regarding statements 
made by the administration regarding nuclear technology and China. As 
many Members of this body are aware, China is a major supplier of 
weapons of mass destruction, nuclear and missile technology.
  When the United States and China signed an accord in 1985 to allow 
American firms to export nuclear technology to China, Members of 
Congress were concerned over China's sales of nuclear weapons 
technology to third countries. In response, Congress quickly passed 
legislation to require the President to first certify that China has 
not sold or transferred nuclear technology to countries that are not 
subject to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
  In granting the certification, the Clinton Administration has chosen 
to overlook China's recent transfer of nuclear technology to 
unregulated nuclear facilities in Pakistan and Iran. The administration 
has accepted so-called assurances by Beijing that it would cancel or 
postpone indefinitely several projects, especially secret nuclear 
facilities in Pakistan and a uranium conversion facility in Iran, as 
the basis for the U.S. granting the certification.
  Earlier this year, the Congressional Research Service stated that 
China may be continuing to violate its commitment to abide by 
international nuclear proliferation guidelines. Yet, the administration 
continues to overlook CIA findings that the Chinese have sold 5,000 
ring magnets to Pakistan for its uranium enrichment facility. The ring 
magnets were transferred to a laboratory in Kahuta, Pakistan. The 
facility in Kahuta is named after the founder of Pakistan's nuclear 
weapons program. I

[[Page H1768]]

would like to note that ring magnets are used for the building of 
nuclear weapons.
  The administration has overlooked a CIA report that described the 
Chinese sale of special industrial furnace and high-tech diagnostic 
equipment to Pakistan. The furnace and diagnostic equipment have dual 
use and can be used to melt plutonium and uranium for nuclear weapons.
  Paul Levanthal of the Nuclear Control Institute said that the United 
States should be on the lookout for China providing Pakistan with heavy 
water to start up a military plutonium production reactor at Khushab.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like for the administration to outline the 
Chinese policy on controlling sales of missile technology. 
Unfortunately, they cannot. As several sources have correctly pointed 
out, the Chinese have not established export controls that meet the 
international standards.
  Despite the foiled Chinese plan and Mr. Levanthal's concerns 
regarding the sale of heavy water to Pakistan, the administration 
continues to look the other way. The administration will continue to 
support China's export of technology and ballistic and missile 
components to Pakistan.
  The administration is willing to approve China's continued support of 
Pakistan's commitment to build a plutonium production reactor and a 
plutonium reprocessing plant. These facilities are essential for a 
nuclear weapons program. Despite the repeated protests by Members of 
this body, China continues to assist Pakistan in building a 
sophisticated nuclear arsenal. Unfortunately, this nuclear arsenal is 
not subject to international inspection.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that Pakistan is not a member of 
the International Atomic Energy Agency and bans investigators from 
several of its nuclear facilities.
  Members of this body have supported, and at times insisted, that 
China receive U.S. peaceful nuclear technology only if China halts all 
nuclear exports to nations with unregulated nuclear facilities. Last 
year, a letter was sent to President Clinton by Members of this body 
stating that China has not earned or behaved in a manner that warrants 
such certification.
  The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency's annual report to Congress 
stated that while the administration could not stipulate a violation, 
questions remain about contacts between Chinese entities and elements 
associated with Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.
  Last week I cosigned a letter with Members from both sides of the 
aisle, authored by the chairman of the Committee on International 
Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), that urged the 
President to prevent the delivery of reactors and nuclear technology to 
China. Many of my colleagues share the same concerns that I have 
outlined today. We are concerned that the Chinese Government has not 
held true to its promise.
  Many of my colleagues share the same concerns that I have outlined 
today. We are concerned that the Chinese Government has not held to its 
promises in stopping the spread of its own technology to countries that 
are trying to develop nuclear weapons.
  Mr. Speaker, the Members of this body have continued to send a 
message that we will not turn our heads away and accept the Chinese 
nuclear weapons relationship with Pakistan and Iran. We cannot accept 
the assurances made by the Chinese government when it has failed to be 
a responsible member of the international nuclear proliferation 
community.

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