|
Wolf Calls on Clinton to Declassify
National Security Information About
China |
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA-10)
said today that due to the national security implications of granting
permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to China, he has written to
President Clinton asking him to direct the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) to declassify key information about that nation.
"I have
received the CIA briefing about the national security risk that China
poses to the U.S., and I am deeply concerned about what I heard," Wolf
said. "I think that the Congress and the American people deserve to know
the truth about the seriousness of this issue and how PNTR would affect
our national security."
Because of their deep concern for national
security, the following veterans and military groups are urging that
Congress not grant PNTR to China: Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American
Legion, AMVETS, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Fleet Reserve
Officers Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the Naval Reserve
Association and the Warrant Officers Association.
Wolf's
letter to President Clinton follows:
May 17, 2000
The Honorable William J. Clinton
The President
The White
House Washington DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing
to request that you immediately direct the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) to declassify key information and to answer questions on the
national security implications of the U.S. giving permanent normal trade
relations (PNTR) to China.
I have had a CIA briefing on the
national security risk China poses to the U.S., and I am extremely
concerned about the information I received. I have written my colleagues
in the House several times urging them to obtain this same briefing. To
date, only 23 Members of the House of Representatives have received a
briefing from the CIA on the serious national security implications
surrounding the issue of trade with China.
The American people and
the Congress must know the answers to questions such as the following
before the vote on PNTR: Does the intelligence community have any evidence
that China is preparing to attack the U.S. as part of an attack on Taiwan?
What evidence is there?
To what extent is the Chinese government
selling weapons to countries which pose a direct threat to U.S. troops and
to U.S. interests?
Have U.S. exports over time contributed to
China's nuclear weapons development, missile delivery systems,
intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, power projection,
anti-submarine warfare, encryption capabilities, and low-observable
technology?
Is there evidence that China has a program underway to
attack U.S. satellites in space? If so, please provide this information.
Does the intelligence community have any written evidence that
China is preparing to sink U.S. aircraft carriers? If so, what is it?
How broad ranging is China's intelligence operation in the U.S.?
Please provide details and a summary of China's intelligence operations in
the U.S. Will giving PNTR to China allow China greater access to sensitive
U.S. technology?
Is the Chinese military involved in human organ
trafficking? Does the Chinese military perceive the U.S. as a threat or as
an enemy to China?
As the vote for PNTR for China has been scheduled
for the week of May 22, your timely instruction to the CIA to declassify
information and material pertinent to these and other questions
surrounding the national security risk in the U.S. giving PNTR to China,
is critical.
Millions of Americans are concerned about the
national security risks in giving China PNTR. Just last week, America's
largest veterans organization, the American Legion came out in opposition
to PNTR for China because of national security concerns. Yesterday, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars announced their opposition of PNTR for China.
Because of similar national security concerns, the Fleet Reserve Officers
Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the Naval Reserve
Association, the Warrant Officers Association, the Military Order of the
Purple Heart, and AMVETS also oppose giving PNTR to China.
The May
8 South China Morning Post reports that the People's Liberation Army has
begun military exercises culminating with a 20-day war game beginning on
May 25th, the same week the vote is scheduled in the House of
Representatives. The war game is reported to have close to 100, 000
participants and is supposed to mimic invasions of Taiwan that result in
confrontation with the U.S. and Japan.
The opposition of numerous
veterans groups and these disturbing reports of war games conducted at the
same time as a vote on PNTR show that Congress and America need to know
the answers to the fore-mentioned questions.
Again, your rapid
action on this matter is urgently needed for the public and for Congress
to be adequately informed of the serious national security matters related
to the U.S. granting China PNTR.
# # # |
