-Caveat Lector- China: We Have Our Own Neutron Bomb By JOE McDONALD .c The Associated Press BEIJING (AP) - China declared today that it had invented its own neutron bomb, making an unprecedented disclosure about its nuclear arsenal to counter and reject U.S. accusations of atomic spying. The timing of the announcement came as the furor over spy claims by a U.S. congressional panel led by Rep. Christopher Cox was dying down. Still, China is in the midst of its harshest campaign of criticism of rival Taiwan in three years, and has threatened to attack the island. China is known to have exploded a neutron bomb in 1988, but in keeping with its secretive military traditions, apparently never announced its achievement. The bombs are meant to produce a smaller blast than conventional nuclear weapons but more intense radiation, limiting physical damage while killing large numbers of people. In Washington, White House press secretary Joe Lockhart sought to reassure Americans about the threat of China's neutron bomb. ``We have no doubt that our nuclear deterrent is strong enough to protect our national interests,'' he said. Zhao Qizheng, the chief government spokesman, said Chinese scientists developed neutron bombs and miniaturized atomic warheads in the 1970s and '80s. The United States developed neutron bombs in the 1970s, but said it never deployed them. Calling the Cox report on Chinese spying ``utterly absurd'' and racist, Zhao rejected suggestions that China built the bombs only by relying on stolen U.S. technology. ``The Chinese can't be as smart as the Americans, therefore they must have stolen the technology,'' he said. Zhao also gave details of programs to develop anti-submarine microwave technology, missile design techniques and technology to launch multiple satellites from a single rocket. Zhao said China, which exploded its first nuclear bomb in 1964, was driven by the nuclear threat of the U.S.-Soviet arms race. ``China had no choice but to carry out research and development of nuclear weapons,'' he said. After developing atomic and hydrogen bombs, Zhao said, it was ``quite logical and natural for it to master the neutron bomb technology through its own efforts over a short period of time.'' In Tokyo, the chief Japanese government spokesman said that although having neutron technology doesn't violate international arms-control agreements, Japan would ask China to exercise restraint in developing it. ``We hope that efforts toward nuclear arms reduction will be strengthened further,'' the Kyodo news agency quoted Hiromu Nonaka as saying. China has threatened to attack Taiwan after Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui said last week the two governments have ``state-to-state'' relations, all but rejecting Beijing's insistence that the island is part of its territory. Taiwan and the mainland have been ruled separately since China's civil war 50 years ago. Beijing has said it reserves the right to use force against the island if it declares formal independence. A sharply worded commentary Thursday in China's military-run Liberation Army Daily said the armed forces were ready to attack Taiwan if necessary to enforce Beijing's claim. ``(We) will not tolerate separatist conspiracies nor sit idly by to let even one inch of territory go,'' said the commentary, which was reprinted in major newspapers nationwide. Zhang Qiyue, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, would not comment on whether the neutron bomb disclosures were meant as a threat to Taiwan. She would not say whether China has a neutron bomb in its arsenal now. But Zhang repeated Beijing's warning to Taiwan not to ``underestimate the firm resolve'' of the Chinese government to enforce its territorial integrity. ``Lee Teng-hui and the Taiwan authorities must ... stop all activities aimed at splitting the motherland,'' she told reporters. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
