FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: BILL DUHNKE

MAY 5, 1999
PHONE: (202) 224-1700

SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE APPROVED ITS REPORT ON IMPACTS ON U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY OF ADVANCED SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) AND REPORT ON THE PRC'S EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE U.S. POLICY

On May 5, 1999, the Senate Select Committee approved its Report on Impacts on U.S. National Security of Advanced Satellite Technology Transfers to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Report on the PRC's Efforts to Influence U.S. Policy. The Administration has declassified them.

Every word is supported by classified or unclassified information obtained by the Committee in the course of its ten-months investigation.

The Committee makes ten recommendations, some of which are broken down into sub-parts. The Committee recommends vigorous, immediate action to ensure that commercial satellite launches in the PRC are effectively monitored so that no unlicensed technology or know-how is transferred at any time during the preparations for launch, the launch, or, in the event of a failure, the launch failure analysis. The Committee found that such effective monitoring has not occurred in the past. Unauthorized transfers of technology have taken place. The technical information transferred "enab1es the PRC to improve its present and future space launch vehicles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (1CBMs). If such transfer results in the PRC's integration of this technology into its missile programs, national security will have been damaged."

Among other steps, the Committee also recommends:

  • establishment of strict timetables for, and openness in, export license decisions;

  • meaningful participation by the Intelligence Community in the export licensing process;

  • annual reports to Congress regarding implementation of safeguards;

  • encouragement to the U.S. space launch industry;

  • an improved launch monitoring program;

  • evaluation of phasing-out the policy of exporting U.S. commercial satellites to the PRC for launch;

  • insistence that the PRC demonstrate a sustained and verified commitment to non-proliferation of missiles and missile technology and implementation of an effective export control system prior to allowing the PRC to join the Missile Technology Control Regime.

    The Committee found that intelligence information demonstrates that the PRC developed and implemented a covert plan to influence U.S. policy through campaign contributions to political parties and candidates.


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