Forwarded From: Erik Parker <netmaskat_private> Originally To: cyberwar@cyber-warfare.com China Breaches US Security Reuters 3:00 a.m. 31.Dec.98.PST WASHINGTON -- A US House of Representatives inquiry has concluded that high-tech deals with China -- including those in military equipment -- have damaged US national security, lawmakers said on Wednesday. "I can tell you today that we have found that national security harm did occur," Representative Chris Cox (R-Calif.) told reporters after the panel adopted its classified report. Cox chaired the special investigating committee. The report summarizing the six-month inquiry included 38 recommendations for future dealings with China. The committee's five Republicans and four Democrats unanimously approved the recommendations. The probe was set up after allegations that Hughes Electronics and Loral Space & Communications (LOR) had transferred technology to China after satellites belonging to the two companies were destroyed in Chinese rocket explosions. "The select committee has found that the transfer of sensitive US technology to the People's Republic of China goes beyond the Hughes and Loral instances that were a significant part of the reason that the committee was formed," Cox told reporters. "These transfers are not limited to missile-satellite technology, but cover militarily significant technologies." He declined to go into details, saying unclassified parts of the report would be made public in about two months. Earlier this month a classified Pentagon report concluded that Hughes scientists gave the Chinese valuable assistance after the 1995 crash of a Chinese rocket carrying a commercial communications satellite built by the American company. "These are serious problems that must be addressed by the administration and the Congress," said Representative Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), speaking alongside Cox on Wednesday. He added that correcting the problems would require new legislation. The House committee looked at relationships between China and the United states over the last two decades, periods that include both Democratic and Republican administrations. Cox said China's "technology acquisition efforts directed against the United States" had been going on for more than the two decades the panel studied. "It's important to recognize also that that goes on even today," he said. The committee began its work after Republican allegations that satellite-export deals concluded with the approval of the Clinton administration may have been affected by political campaign donations. -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Internet Security Institute [www.isi-sec.com]
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