Congressional Statements

Transfer of Chinese Missile Technology to Pakistan

Pallone Statement in House of Representatives
May 22, 2002

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, I would like to take the opportunity on the House floor this evening to express my concerns regarding the continued transfer of missile technology from China to Pakistan. The Bush administration has reported that the transfer of this highly sensitive information persists even today.

Mr. Speaker, in May 1996, China pledged to not provide technological assistance to nuclear facilities in countries such as Pakistan, where such facilities are not safeguarded. However, Chinese authorities did not effectively ban technology transfers which continued to take place after May of 1996.

In November 2000, China entered into an agreement with the Clinton administration that prohibited China from transferring missiles or missile technology to specifically Pakistan. Apparently, missile technology transfers continued even after this specific prohibition.

Mr. Speaker, what concerns me is that John Bolton, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and Security has said that the Bush administration's policy on the illegal export of missile technology from China to Pakistan has not changed since the Clinton administration, which on November 21, 2000 imposed sanctions on Pakistan for engaging in missile technology proliferation activities with China. But from my understanding, the Bush administration has already waived substantially all of the missile technology control regime sanctions previously imposed against Pakistan citing the authority of S. 1465, which provided the President with increased flexibility in the exercise of his waiver authority with respect to Pakistan.

I am extremely disappointed that the Bush administration would publicize that its policy has not changed since the Clinton administration, even though the opposite is true and that the Clinton prohibition was recently waived under President Bush's authority.

In addition, I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is that missile technology transfers from China to Pakistan be terminated. The current political situation in Pakistan is extremely unstable given their military dictator Musharraf's standing as president and the escalating conflict in Kashmir. Further, there are reports that Osama bin Laden, members of al Qaeda and the Taliban may have shifted into Pakistan. Bin Laden has been known to confer with nuclear scientists in the past. And it is imperative that no further missile or nuclear technology information be filtered into Pakistan for fear of the information getting into deadly hands.

Mr. Speaker, the administration has the authority to reauthorize the prohibition of November 2000 that mandates China not transfer missiles or missile technology to Pakistan. I sent a letter to President Bush today, which I would like to include in the RECORD, Mr. Speaker, requesting that the prohibition be put back in place. The letter is as follows:

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Washington, DC, May 22, 2002.
Hon. GEORGE W. BUSH,
President of the United States,
Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT:

I would like to take this opportunity to express to you my concerns regarding the continued transfer of missile technology from China to Pakistan as reported by your administration.

In May 1996, China pledged to not provide technological assistance to nuclear facilities in countries such as Pakistan, where such facilities are not safeguarded. However, Chinese authorities did not effectively ban technology information transfers, which continued to take place after May 1996.

In November 2000, China entered into an agreement with the Clinton Administration that prohibited China from transferring missiles or missile technology to specifically Pakistan. Apparently, missile technology transfers continued even after this specific prohibition.

What concerns me is that John R. Bolton, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and Security, has stated that your administration's policy of the illegal export of missile technology from China to Pakistan has not changed since the Clinton administration, which on November 21, 2000, imposed sanctions on Pakistan for engaging in missile proliferation activities with China. From my understanding, however, your administration has already waived substantially all of the MTCR sanctions previously imposed against Pakistan, citing the authority of S. 1465, which provided the President with increased flexibility in the exercise of his MTCR waiver authority with respect to Pakistan.

I am disappointed that your administration would publicize that its policy has not changed since the Clinton administration even though the opposite is true and that the Clinton prohibition was waived under your authority. In addition, I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is that missile technology transfers from China to Pakistan be terminated. The current political situation in Pakistan is extremely unstable given their military dictator Pervez Musharraf standing as President and the escalating conflict in Kashmir. Further, there are reports that Osama bin Laden, members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban may have shifted into Pakistan. Bin Laden has been known to have conferred with nuclear scientists in the past and it is imperative that no further missile or nuclear technology information be filtered into Pakistan for fear of the information getting into deadly hands.

Your administration has the authority to reauthorize the prohibition of November 2000 that mandates China not to transfer missile or missile technology to Pakistan. This is a matter of not only security in the South Asia region, but is a national security concern as well. Reinstating this prohibition is the only means to ensuring that the transfer of information will be terminated and that China will in fact put in place punitive measures towards companies that continue to attempt to provide information illegally to China. Therefore, I respectfully request that you use your authority to reauthorize the prohibition on missile technology transfers from China to Pakistan.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
FRANK PALLONE, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, this is a matter of not only security in the South Asia region but is a national security concern as well.

Reinstating this prohibition is the only means to ensure that the transfer of information will be terminated and that China will, in fact, put in place punitive measures towards companies that continue to attempt to provide information illegally to Pakistan.