Week of May 7, 1999
Week of May 7, 1999
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Fallout from Los Alamos Investigation
SUMMARY:
Evidence of lax security procedures and a break-down in communication between
federal agencies involved in the investigation of possible espionage by scientist
Lee Wenho, has been scrutinized at Congressional hearings this week. At an
Energy Committee hearing chaired by Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AL) directors
of some of America’s nuclear labs admitted that security remains a concern
despite efforts to tighten it since the espionage was uncovered. According
to these witnesses, it is possible for scientists to download encrypted information
on computer disks and carry them off lab premises. Such potential breaches
alarmed the members of the committee. Poor coordination of an investigation
into Mr. Lee that was initiated in 1982 between the Department of Energy,
the Justice Department and the F.B.I. was also addressed at the hearing.
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China Berates NATO on Air Strikes
SUMMARY:
China continued its criticism of NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia. This week
a Chinese human rights group, the China Society for Human Rights Studies,
blasted NATO’s actions, comparing them to 19th century imperialism and asserted
that a nation’s sovereignty could not be denied in the name of advocating
human rights.
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May Fourth Observation Includes Detention of Dissidents
SUMMARY:
Tuesday marked the 80th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, a patriotic
movement which began with student-led nationalist demonstrations and which
sparked widespread interest and debate in Western science and democracy. There
were many officially sponsored celebrations stressing patriotism. Democratic
aspects of the movement were generally ignored, and authorities were quick
to stop unauthorized meetings, detaining many activists. Chinese leaders are
worried about social unrest in a year of politically charged anniversaries,
including the 10th anniversary of another student movement, the June 4th Tiananmen
Square Incident.
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DPP Tones Down Independence Rhetoric
SUMMARY:
At a party meeting last weekend, Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
amended its platform to signal a retreat from its pro-independence rhetoric
in preparation for upcoming elections. The decision was made in an effort
to appeal to a greater number of Taiwan’s voters who have expressed concern
that the election of a DDP candidate to the office of the president might
provoke China. In an effort to demonstrate its moderation, the DPP has agreed
to end its boycott of the island’s official name, the Republic of China. The
DPP’s leader, Chen Shui-bian will run for the presidency in the year 2000
against a National Party (Koumintang) candidate and candidates from smaller
parties.
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Chinese Accused of Espionage in Taiwan
SUMMARY:
On April 28, 1999 Taiwan arrested three men visiting the island from China
on charges of spying at an air base that houses F-16 fighters. The three were
working illegally on a construction project at the base, which allegedly gave
them access to the F-16s. The men were identified as Wang Shengyeh, Wang Shengmao
and Lin Guijieh. Taiwanese relatives of the Wangs stated that the two men
were there to visit family members and were attempting to earn extra money
to augment their meager income from farming.
The U.S. and China This Week
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