Timeline of Chinese espionage against the U.S.
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The Timeline of Chinese espionage against the U.S. is a chronology of information relating both to the 1996 U.S. campaign finance scandal (also known as Chinagate) and the People's Republic of China's alleged nuclear espionage against the United States detailed in the Congressional reports known as the 1997 Special Investigation in Connection with 1996 Federal Election Campaigns and the Cox Report respectively. The timeline also includes documented information relating to relevent investigations and reactions by the White House, the U.S. Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and United States Department of Justice.
Released publicly in May 1999, the Cox Report stated China had acquired information on seven of the United States' most advanced nuclear warheads. According to the report, the information was stolen via an espionage campaign that stretched from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. In addition to nuclear espionage, the Cox Report also detailed China's legal and illegal 1990s acquisition of detailed information about the United States' advanced satellite, encryption, MIRV, ICBM, anti-submarine radar, neutron bomb, and high performance computer technology. The Cox Committee was formed in 1998 after allegations arose regarding bribery charges and illegal transfers of missile technology involving an American satellite company.
Released in March of 1998, the Senate report on the campaign finance scandal detailed China's attempts to influence the U.S. elections by using conduits to donate non-American money to the Democratic National Committee and Clinton administration. The report also detailed the abilility of both a Chinese Lt. General and a well-known Chinese arms merchant to gain access to fund-raising meetings with President Clinton.
1995
May
- On May 15, 1995, China conducted an underground nuclear test just days after it had agreed to an extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[Almanac], CNN.com, May 15, 1997[Nuclear Threat Initiative], Retrieved: April 14, 2006
- Sometime in June, a walk-in agent for PRC intelligence services approached the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) office in Taiwan and provided them with an official PRC document classified "Secret" that contained design information of all seven of America's nuclear warheads.[Report of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China], Chapter 2, The "Walk-In", U.S. House of Representatives, Retrieved: April 14, 2006 Allegedly, Clinton's Director of Central Intelligence John Deutch was not informed until the following month.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- Clinton's former Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary, Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, and CIA Director claim they first learned of China's theft of America's nuclear warhead designs sometime in July 1995. All three allege they never informed President Clinton.Risen, James and Gerth, Jeff, ["U.S. Is Said to Have Known Of China Spy Link in 1995"], New York Times, June 27, 1999
- President Clinton visited CIA headquarters July 14. According to a photo in the New York Times published the following day, First Lady Hillary Clinton joined him on his visit. According to a CIA press release that day, the president received intelligence briefings from CIA Director Deutch while he was there.[Press Release], CIA, July 14, 1995, Retrieved: April 14, 2006 Allegedly, Deutch failed to inform the president about China's theft of America's nuclear weapons designs during the briefing.
- On August 17 China conducted another underground nuclear test.[Nuclear Threat Initiative], Retrieved April 14, 2006
- Hillary Clinton and then U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright attended a "women's conference" in Beijing, China on September 5-6, 1995.Faison, Seth, ["Chinese Jostle Thousands Of Women At Forum"], New York Times, Sept. 7, 1995 Chinese arms merchant Wang Jun, chairman of China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC) and Poly Technologies, claims Hillary Clinton invited him to a meeting while she was there.Mufson, Steven, ["Chinese Denies Seeking White House Visit"], Washington Post, March 16, 1997 Poly Technologies is a "front company for the Chinese military".[Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)], Retrieved: Feb. 10, 2006
- On September 13, President Clinton met with the Lippo Group's James Riady, and Commerce Department official John Huang. During the meeting, they decided Huang should leave Ron Brown's Commerce Department and become a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[1997 Special Investigation in Connection with 1996 Federal Election Campaigns: Section 15, pp. 8-11], U.S. Senate, Retrieved: April 14, 2006 (PDF file) While at the DNC, Huang raised $3.4 million. Nearly half had to be returned when questions arose regarding their source during later investigations by the U.S. Congress.["Campaign Finance Key Player: John Huang"], Washington Post, July 27, 1997 Huang pleaded guilty in 1999 to conspiring to reimburse others' campaign contributions with Asian funds.["Former Democratic fund-raiser John Huang pleads guilty"], CNN.com, Aug. 12, 1999 James Riady was later convicted of campaign finance violations relating to the same scheme as well.["Clinton Donor Pleads Guilty"], CBSNews.com, March 20, 2001, Retrieved: April 14, 2006 The U.S. Senate campaign finance report stated that both James Riady and his father Mochtar had "had a long-term relationship with a Chinese intelligence agency."Woodward, Bob, ["Findings Link Clinton Allies to Chinese Intelligence"], Washington Post, Feb. 10, 1998
- Sometime in September, President Clinton, Leon Panetta and Clinton's Deputy Defense Secretary discussed plans to transfer control of Long Beach, California Naval Station to the city of Long Beach with the full knowledge they planned on leasing it to PRC owned China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO). No national security review was performed before the decision.Gullo, Karen and Solomon, John, ["White House pushed to turn over Navy base to Chinese firm"], Associated Press, March 9, 1997 A COSCO ship was used to smuggle weapons into the United States the following year.
- On October 24, 1995, President Clinton had a meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in New York City. Asst. Sec. of State for East Asia Winston Lord, Secretary Christopher and Robert Suettinger, Clinton's Director of Asian Affairs for the National Security Council (NSC), joined them at the meeting. No one brought up China's theft of America's weapons designs during the discussion because, at this point, all four claim they had not yet been told.Mitchell, Alison, ["The U.N. at 50: Clinton and Jiang;China's President and Clinton Meet to Repair Fences"], New York Times, Oct. 25, 1995Harris, John F., ["Clinton, Jiang Confer"], Washington Post, Oct. 25, 1995
- On or about October 31, the FBI first learned of China's possible theft of advanced U.S. nuclear weapons designs. The FBI allegedly never informed the president.[Department of Energy, FBI, and Department of Justice Handling of the Espionage Investigation into the Compromise of Design Information on the W-88 Warhead Statement by Senate Governmental Affairs Committee], Aug. 5, 1999, Retrieved: May 29, 2006
- CIA Director Deutch allegedly briefed Clinton's National Security Advisor Anthony Lake about China's theft of America's nuclear weapon designs sometime in November 1995. Lake never informed the president.Risen, James, and Gerth, Jeff, ["U.S. Is Said to Have Known Of China Spy Link in 1995"], New York Times, June 27, 1999
- In late 1995 and early 1996, United States Department of Energy (DOE) intelligence official Notra Trulock took his findings on China's theft of advanced U.S. nuclear warhead designs to the FBI. Trulock made the discovery independently from the CIA while analyzing data from China's recent underground nuclear test. A team of FBI and DOE officials then traveled to three weapons labs (Livermore, Sandia and Los Alamos) and pored over travel and work records of lab scientists who had access to the relevant technology. By February, they narrowed its focus to five possible suspects.Gerth, Jeff, and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
1996
- In early 1996, Notra Trulock told CIA officials about his discoveries on China's theft of America's nuclear warhead designs.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- On February 2, the Clinton administration granted Wang Jun's company Poly Technologies import permits that were to allow the shipment of over 100,000 semiautomatic weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition to a Detroit company that had ties to the Chinese military.Daly, Michael, "This Prez Donor a Real Pistol", New York Daily News, March 26, 1997
- On February 6, Commerce Secretary Ron Brown met with Chinese arms merchant Wang Jun at the Commerce Department in Washington D.C. A close business associate of Brown, Nolanda Hill, testified in court in March 1998 that in early 1996 Brown showed her Commerce Department documents that proved the department's trade missions to Asia and elsewhere were used for partisan political fund-raising. Specifically, plane seats were sold to business people who gave at least $50,000 each to the DNC. The same day Brown met with Wang Jun, Clinton friend and DNC fund-raiser Charlie Trie escorted Wang to a White House coffee with President Clinton.Jackson, Brooks, ["Clinton's Re-election Road Paved With Money"], CNN.com, Feb. 24, 1997["Highlights of U.S. report on alleged China spying"], CNN.com, May 25, 1999Frieden, Terry, ["Ex-Ron Brown Partner Claims Clintons Backed 'Sale' Of Trade Seats"], CNN.com, March 23, 1998 President Clinton signed four new waivers for American satellite launches in China that same day, as well.Curry, Tom and Windrem, Robert, ["Time Line of Clinton China Decisions"], MSNBC, May 27, 1998
- On February 14, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) space launch vehicle crashed destroying the Loral Space & Communications satellite it was carrying. Chinese officials kept American investigators away from the crash scene. When they were finally allowed access, they found the militarily sensitive encryption chips were missing even though their encasing was left intact (encryption technology denies outsiders access to, or control over, American satellites in space).Shmitt, Eric, ["A Secret U.S. Device Missing After '96 China Rocket Crash"], New York Times, June 24, 1998 Loral and Hughes Electronics' engineers gave away missile secrets to China in the ensuing investigation. Loral CEO Bernard Schwartz was the top contributor to President Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and joined Ron Brown on numerous trade flights to China. He was also on Clinton's short list of potential nominees for the defense secretary position being vacated by William Perry.["Loral CEO frequent administration guest"], Associated Press, May 21, 1998Mintz, John, ["2 U.S. space giants accused of aiding China Hughes, Boeing allegedly gave away missile technology illegally"], Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2003"Boeing, Hughes settle technology transfer charges", Associated Press, March 6, 2003["Chinese Aerospace Official Denies Giving To Dems"], CNN.com, May 21, 1998
- On March 14, President Clinton signed an order that transferred decision-making authority over granting of licenses for overseas sales of dual-use technology from the State Department to the Commerce Department -- thereby making it easier for the PLA to launch American satellites -- against State Department and Pentagon objections. The order would not take effect until November 6, the day after the presidential election.Gerth, Jeff and Sanger, David E., ["How Chinese Won Rights to Launch Satellites For U.S."], New York Times, May 17, 1998["Justice May Probe Links Between China Policy, Campaign Cash"], CNN.com, May 17, 1998 Dual-use technology includes satellites, high-performance computers (HPCs) and nuclear power plant technology among other things. Clinton's Commerce Department allowed the sale of 603 HPCs to China between 1996 and 1998.[Cox Report], Chapter 3, Summary, U.S. House of Representatives, Retrieved: April 26, 2006
- On March 18, a weapons cache of 2,000 AK-47s was seized aboard a COSCO ship in Oakland, California. The weapons were owned by Wang Jun's Poly Technologies and the Chinese government-owned company Norinco.Cole, Richard, ["Automatic rifles seized; Chinese official charged"], Associated Press, May 24, 1996
- On March 21, 1996, Clinton friend and DNC fund-raiser Charlie Trie delivered $460,000 to Clinton's legal defense fund. Trie's money was returned later when it was noticed that the money orders, from many different people, had sequential serial numbers and similar handwriting. It was eventually learned the money, which had supposedly been donated by followers of Buddhist Master Suma Ching Hai, was actually laundered from sources in Asia.[1997 Special Investigation in Connection with 1996 Federal Election Campaigns, Section 20, pp 7-11], U.S. Senate, Retrieved: April 14, 2006 Immediately after the donation, Tri sent a letter to President Clinton that expressed concern about America's intervention in tensions arising from China's military exercises being conducted near Taiwan. Trie told the President in his letter that war with China was a possibility should U.S. intervention continue:
- On March 27, Energy Department officials were notified by an American agent that it appeared China recently stole U.S. neutron bomb secrets.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["Intelligence Report Points To 2d China Nuclear Leak"], New York Times, April 8, 1999
- Sometime in April 1996, intelligence analyst Ronald Pandolfi wrote a report for the CIA warning about military implications of Hughes Electronics' sharing of missile expertise with the Chinese. The CIA decided not to distribute the classified report to select government officials, as is routinely done with intelligence estimates, saying it was insufficiently rigorous. The report would be kept from Congress until late 1998.Gerth, Jeff, ["Old Concerns Over Data Transfer to China Get New Attention"], New York Times, Dec. 7, 1998
- On April 13, the Energy Department briefed the White House about China's espionage at Los Alamos weapons lab. A group of senior officials including Notra Trulock met with Deputy National Security Advisor Sandy BergerSandy Berger pleaded guilty to stealing and destroying classified documents relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States in 2005. Source: Lichtbau, Eric, ["Clinton Aide Pleads Guilty To Taking Secret Papers"], New York Times, April 2, 2005 and told him that China appeared to have acquired both W-88 nuclear and neutron bomb secrets and that a spy for China might still be at Los Alamos. Berger later claimed he did not inform the president of the espionage until July 1997,Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999 but claims he did inform Congress in April 1996Risen, James and Gerth, Jeff, ["U.S. Is Said to Have Known Of China Spy Link in 1995"], New York Times, June 27, 1999 The Energy Department also notified Defense Secretary Perry, Attorney General Janet Reno, and FBI Director Louis Freeh about China's alleged espionage during this same time period. Allegedly, no one informed the president.[Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commericial Concerns with the People's Republic of China], Chapter 2, Notification of the President and Senior U.S. Officials, Retrieved: June 2, 2006
- Sometime in April, former President George H. W. Bush traveled to China with his former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft. While there, they dined with Chinese weapons merchant and CITIC head Wang Jun. Bush claims he did not recall meeting with Wang. Scowcroft claims he thought Wang did not speak English. "My recollection is he (Wang) did not" speak English, Scowcroft stated. "Now that doesn't mean he doesn't, because a lot of them speak English and don't want to do it in front of foreigners."Jackson, David, "Chinese Official No Stranger To Vips;Fundraising Probe's Key Figure Cultivated U.S. Establishment", Chicago Tribune, March 23, 1997
- On April 29, Vice President Gore met at the Hsi Lai Temple near Los Angeles. Alleged Chinese agent Maria Hsia was his host. John Huang helped organize and attended the event. Gore walked away with $140,000 in campaign donations from monks and nuns which was later returned. The money supposedly donated by the Temple's nuns had actually been laundered from Asian sources. Suro, Roberto, ["Gore's Ties to Hsia Cast Shadow on 2000 Race"], Washington Post, Feb. 23, 1998 The nuns later pleaded the Fifth Amendment before Congress.Abse, Nathan, ["A Look at the 94 Who Aren't Talking"], Washington Post, June 9, 1998
- Sometime in April, Vice President Al Gore's national security advisor Leon Fuerth was informed about China's nuclear espionage at America's weapons laboratories. Some documents showed he may have been informed as early as 1995, though Fuerth did not recall a briefing then. Fuerth failed to mention the espionage to Gore until March 1999.Gerth, Jeff, ["China Stole Data, Report Concludes"], New York Times, May 21, 1999
May
- Sometime in May, Attorney General Janet Reno learned of information that China was attempting to inject foreign funds into the U.S. elections.Wines, Michael, ["Reno Says Her Warning on China Failed"], New York Times, May 14, 1997
- Arrest warrants were issued by a United States Attorney May 22 in regards to Poly Technologies' attempt to smuggle 2,000 AK-47s into the United States aboard a COSCO ship for sale to drug gangs. During the sting operation, the smugglers also offered agents access to shoulder launched missiles and tanks. The sting operation was sprung earlier than planned due to a leak to the press from an unknown person."Chinese Gun Ring Busted In Bay Area 2,000 smuggled AK-47s seized in sting, U.S. says", San Francisco Chronicle, May 23, 1996
- On May 30, the FBI formally opened a criminal investigation into the theft of the W-88 nuclear design. Originally only 1 or 2 agents were assigned to the case and the inquiry made little progress over the rest of the year.Risen, James and Gerth, Jeff, ["U.S. Is Said to Have Known Of China Spy Link in 1995"], New York Times, June 27, 1999
- On June 3, 1996, the FBI warned White House National Security Council aide Rand Beers that China might be trying to funnel money into Congressional campaigns. Beers later claimed he did not report the information to President Clinton or his National Security Advisor because FBI agents asked that he not share information from the briefing with them. The FBI denied the claim. The FBI notified members of Congress during the same time period.Mitchell, Alison, ["Warning on China Never Got to Him, Clinton Contends"], New York Times, March 11, 1997
- On June 8, China conducted a third underground nuclear test since May 1995.[Nuclear Threat Initiative], Retrieved April 14, 2006
- Sometime in June, DNC fund-raiser Johnny Chung met with PLA Lt. Gen. Liu Chaoying. Liu was the head of Chinese Aerospace Company. The company builds and launches Chinese rockets and missiles and had dealings with Loral Space & Communications.Gerth, Jeff, ["Satellite Maker Gave Report to China Before Telling U.S."], New York Times, May 19, 1998 Liu later introduced Chung to PLA Gen. Ji Shengde, head of China's military intelligence.Johnston, David, ["Committee Told Of Beijing Cash For Democrats"], New York Times, May 12, 1999
- In late spring 1996, federal examiners discovered the Central Bank of China funneled tens of millions of dollars into a maze of bank accounts controlled by Nan Nan Xu (pronounced "Shoo") in California. Ms. Xu is related by marriage to Liu Chaoying.Golden, Tim and Gerth, Jeff, ["China Sent Cash to U.S. Bank, With Suspicions Slow to Rise"], New York Times, May 12, 1999
- In late June or early July, the CIA issued an internal government statement that declared they may have misread their original analysis of the documents delivered by the double agent to their Taiwan offices and that China may not have America's weapons designs after all. The FBI, in turn, suspended their investigation of the matter (which had just started) for about six weeks.Risen, James and Gerth, Jeff, ["U.S. Is Said to Have Known Of China Spy Link in 1995"], New York Times, June 27, 1999
- On July 22, President Clinton went to a California fund-raiser attended by Johnny Chung and Lt. Gen. Liu Chaoying.Curry, Tom and Windrem, Robert, ["Time Line of Clinton China Decisions"], MSNBC, May 27, 1998
- On July 29, China conducted its most recent nuclear test.[Nuclear Threat Initiative], Retrieved April 14, 2006
- On August 11, China's general in charge of military intelligence, Ji Shengde, gave DNC fund-raiser Johnny Chung $300,000 to funnel into the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign. According to Chung, Ji said at the time: "We like your president".Johnston, David, ["Committee Told Of Beijing Cash For Democrats "], New York Times, May 12, 1999
- The first press report about Clinton administration official and DNC fund-raiser John Huang appeared on September 21 in the Los Angeles Times.Miller, Alan C., ["Democrats Return Illegal Contribution"], Los Angeles Times, Sept. 21, 1996
- On October 3, The DNC laid-off John Huang. Shortly after, a United States Marshal reported Huang missing after attempting to serve a subpoena to him in relation to a lawsuit brought against the Commerce Department by government watchdog group Judicial Watch. John Huang's attorney accepted the subpoena on Huang's behalf October 27. Huang showed up for questioning two days later.Duffy, Brian, ["A Fund-Raiser's Rise and Fall"], Washington Post, May 13, 1997
- Janet Reno rejected a request by Sen. John McCain (Republican-Arizona) for the appointment of an Independent Counsel (IC) to investigate fund-raising abuses on November 13.
- On December 5, It was reported that Commerce Department official Melinda Yee (a friend of John Huang) threw away documents concerning the department's trade missions to China after a judge ordered they be turned over to the Judicial Watch group. According to the court: "No adequate explanation has been given as to why these documents were destroyed". Furthermore, the judge said: "[the Department's] misconduct in this case is so egregious and so extensive that... the agency [should be held] fully accountable for the serious violations that it appears to have deliberately committed".[Memorandum Opinion Judicial Watch vs. Department of Commerce, page 14], U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Retrieved: April 14, 2006 (PDF file)
- On December 9, Chinese Gen. Chi Haotian met with President Clinton, Deputy National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, and Defense Secretary William Perry at the White House. The visit was part of a a two-week tour of the United States (Gen. Chi was in command of the 1989 Tiananman Square massacre).Erlanger, Steven, ["Visiting Washington, China's Defense Chief Calls for Peace"], New York Times, Dec. 10, 1996[Department of Defense Background Press Briefing], Dec. 9, 1996, Retrieved: May 27, 2006 China's theft of America's nuclear weapons designs was never discussed. The president, allegedly, had still not yet been informed by Berger or Perry. Before leaving the U.S. in mid-December, Gen. Chi was given a tour of Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico by Defense Secretary Perry. Lab security officials were given little advanced notice of the visit and Chi was not given a normal background check. Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- Sometime in late 1996 DNC fund-raiser Charlie Trie fled to China.Suro, Roberto, ["Clinton Fund-Raiser to Plead Guilty"], Washington Post, May 22, 1999
1997
- Sometime in early 1997, Energy Department intelligence analyst Notra Trulock learned of new nuclear espionage evidence. He attempted to contact newly appointed Energy Secretary Peña about the information but was not given an appointment to see him until July.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- On February 13, 1997, President Clinton allegedly learned about China's plot to influence America's elections for the first time. The American people learned for the first time as well as the Washington Post published a story that day stating a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the fund-raising activities had discovered evidence that the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. was used for coordinating contributions to the DNC in violation of U.S. law forbidding non-American citizens from giving monetary donations to U.S. politicians and political parties.Woodward, Bob and Duffy, Brian, ["Chinese Embassy Role In Contributions Probed"], Washington Post, Feb. 13, 1997
- On February 18, President Clinton's White House counsel attempted to access the FBI's intelligence about China's attempts to influence America's elections while FBI Director Louis Freeh was away in Saudi Arabia. FBI officials warned Freeh who then blocked Ruff's request for information. Ruff claimed he wanted to inform now Secretary of State Madeleine Albright about the situation before she headed to China to meet with President Jiang February 24.Johnston, David, ["F.B.I. Denied Data the White House Sought on China"], New York Times, March 27, 1997["Clinton Gives Freeh Measured Support"], New York Times, March 25, 1997[U.S. State Department website], Retrieved: May 23, 2006
- On March 13, Attorney General Janet Reno claimed she tried to inform Clinton's National Security Advisor Anthony Lake about the FBI's information concerning China's attempt to influence America's elections back in May 1996, but did not because she "could not find him" (she only attempted to call Lake once). Reno also said she did not tell President Clinton herself because she felt it was the job of the National Security Council.Wines, Michael, ["Reno Says Her Warning on China Failed"], New York Times, May 14, 1997
- FBI Director Freeh told Congress on March 20 his investigation into campaign finance irregularities was not focusing on individual criminal acts, but on a possible conspiracy involving China.Suro, Roberto, ["FBI Head Confirms China Probe Underway"], Washington Post, March 21, 1997
- Vice President Gore visited China March 24-28, 1997. He met with China's President Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng while there. Gore did not bring up China's theft of the United States' nuclear weapons designs during his discussions because he still had not been informed by anyone in the Clinton administration.
- Attorney General Reno decided against appointing an Independent Counsel to investigate the financing of President Clinton's re-election campaign on April 15, saying the Justice Department was capable of carrying out the inquiry.Johnston, David, ["Reno Rejects Call to Name a Counsel Over Fund-raising"], New York Times, April 15, 1997
- The FBI issued a classified report that recommended background checks on foreign visitors to nuclear laboratories be reinstated. The Energy Department ignored the recommendations for 17 months.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- FBI Director Louis Freeh met with recently promoted National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and briefed him about national security matters on April 28. According to Press Secretary Mike McCurry: "[The White House was] ...satisfied that the Attorney General and the Director have taken steps to make sure the President has the information he needs to conduct foreign policy and deal with national security questions." [White House Press Briefing], April 30, 1997, Retrieved: May 28, 2006
- Also on April 28, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen at the Pentagon. Qian met with then Defense Secretary Bill Cohen April 29 and with President Clinton April 30. China's theft of America's nuetron and nuclear weapons designs wasn't discussed as both Clinton and Albright were still not informed.[State Department Press Briefing], April 28, 1997, Retrieved: May 28, 2006
- In May 1997, Los Alamos laboratory scientist Wen Ho Lee (a suspect since February 1996 in the FBI's investigation of China's nuclear espionage campaign) was promoted to a position that required an even higher security clearance than he already had. The Justice Department repeatedly refused FBI requests to tap Wen Ho Lee's phone and gain access to his computer over the next few months. Risen, James, ["Though Suspected as China Spy, Scientist Got Sensitive Job at Lab"], New York Times, March 24, 1999 When the FBI finally gained access to Lee's computer after his dismissal, they discovered Lee had downloaded all of America's nuclear research information gathered over the last 50 years. Lee pleaded guilty September 13, 2000 to a single charge of mishandling nuclear secrets.Sterngold, James, ["Nuclear Scientist Set Free After Plea in Secrets Case; Judge Attacks U.S. Conduct"], New York Times, Sep. 14, 2000
- Former Sandia and Los Alamos laboratory employee Peter Lee (no relation to Wen Ho Lee) gave top secret information on antisubmarine radar technology away to Chinese nuclear-weapons experts during a May 11 lecture at the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics in Beijing, China. Attorney General Reno and Clinton's Navy Department later refused FBI requests to allow open-court testimony about the technology even though doing so would kill the FBI's espionage case against him. Lee ended up pleading guilty to filing a false statement about his 1997 trip to China and to giving classified laser data to Chinese scientists during an earlier trip to China in 1985.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["Reports Show Scientist Gave U.S. Radar Secrets to Chinese"], New York Times, May 10, 1999
- Sen. Fred Thompson (Republican-Tennessee) opened his hearings on China's influence of America's 1996 presidential and congressional elections on July 8, 1997.
- Sometime in July, Secretary Peña finally met with Notra Trulock who had new information about China's ongoing espionage at America's nuclear weapons laboratories. After the meeting, Peña sent him to see National Security Advisor Sandy Berger.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999 Trulock then briefed Berger. Afterwards, Berger then briefed President Clinton about China's nuclear espionage campaign for the first time.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- Federal examiners gave evidence China's Central Bank funneled upwards of $90 million into a California bank owned by Nan Nan Xu to the Justice Department sometime in July. The Justice Department never followed up on the information. No publicly known investigation was ever conducted.Golden, Tim and Gerth, Jeff, ["China Sent Cash to U.S. Bank, With Suspicions Slow to Rise"], New York Times, May 12, 1999
- On August 4, FBI agent Ivian Smith wrote a letter to FBI Director Freeh that expressed "a lack of confidence" in the Justice Department's attorneys regarding the fund-raising investigation. He wrote: "I am convinced the team at DOJ leading this investigation is, at best, simply not up to the task... The impression left is the emphasis on how not to prosecute matters, not how to aggressively conduct investigations leading to prosecutions." Smith and three other FBI agents later testified before Congress in late 1999 that prosecutors at Reno's Justice Department impeded their campaign fund-raising inquiry. FBI agent Daniel Wehr told Congress that the first head U.S. attorney in the investigation, Laura Ingersoll, told the agents they should "not pursue any matter related to solicitation of funds for access to the president. The reason given was, 'That's the way the American political process works.' I was scandalized by that," Wehr said. The four FBI agents also said that Ingersoll prevented them from executing search warrants to stop destruction of evidence and micromanaged the case beyond all reason.["FBI agents criticize Justice Department"], Associated Press via USA Today, Sep. 22, 1999
- Sandy Berger went to China August 10.[Almanac], CNN.com, Aug. 10, 1997 Before he left, he assigned his NSC aide in charge of proliferation to assess the nuclear espionage situation. The aide would later claim that, while the espionage had taken place, Trulock's briefing was only a worse-case scenario.Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- Sometime in September, FBI Director Louis Freeh recommended the Energy Department fire nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee. They ignored his recommendation for 18 months. Risen, James, ["U.S. Fires Scientist Suspected Of Giving China Bomb Data"], New York Times, March 9, 1999
- On September 12, the Washington Post reported the FBI, National Security Agency, and CIA identified DNC and Republican National Committee (RNC) fund-raiser Ted Sioeng as a Chinese spy. Sioeng was a friend of former Commerce employee and DNC fund-raiser John Huang and attended the fund-raising event at the Hsi Lai Temple.Woodward, Bob and Duffy, Brian, ["Senate Panel Is Briefed on China Probe Figure"], Washington Post, Sept. 12,1997
- On September 16, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Charles La Bella to head her campaign finance investigation.Thomas, Pierre, ["Reno Aide Recommends Independent Campaign Finance Probe"], CNN.com, July 23, 1998
- Also in September, Attorney General Reno opened a criminal investigation into Loral Space & Communications and Hughes Electronics' illegal transfer of ballistic missile technology to China.
- On October 28, China's President Jiang Zemin had a private 90-minute meeting with Clinton, Berger, and Albright in the White House residence quarters. This was the first state visit by a high-ranking Chinese official in over ten years.Broder, John M., ["Summit in Washington: At The White House"], New York Times, Oct. 29, 1997 They could not have discussed China's espionage against America's nuclear weapons laboratories because Albright still had not been told of the information.Gerth, Jeff, ["A Look at the 94 Who Aren't Talking"], New York Times, May 21, 1999
- On October 29, President Clinton certified that China was not engaging in the export of nuclear technology to non-nuclear nations. The move allowed a 1985 Sino-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement to go into effect in 1998. The agreement allowed for the shipping of nuclear power plant technology to China.Diamond, Howard, ["Clinton Moves to Implement Sino-U.S. Nuclear Agreement"], Arms Control Today, January/February 1998 "This agreement is a win-win," Clinton said. "It serves America's national security, environmental and economic interests… It is the right thing to do for America."["Clinton OKs Nuclear Power Sales To China"], CNN.com, Oct. 29, 1997
- On October 31 Sen. Fred Thompson made a surprise announcement that he was suspending the Senate hearings into the campaign finance scandal.Walsh, Edward, ["Fund-Raising Hearings Suspended"], Washington Post, Nov. 1, 1997 Two days earlier, CNN reported Thompson had sent a request to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (Republican-Mississippi) to extend the Committee's hearings beyond the original expiration date of December 31.["Senators Grill White House Lawyers Over Tapes"], CNN.com, Oct. 29, 1997
- President Jiang Zemin completed his tour of the United States with a November 2-3 visit to Los Angeles. While there, he toured Hughes Electronics' main headquarters and manufacturing plant.Purdum, Todd S., ["Jiang Does Business On Last Stop Of U.S. Visit"], New York Times, Nov. 3, 1997 Hughes Electronics was fined $32 million in 2003 for illegaly transferring missile technology to China in 1995.Gerth, Jeff, ["2 Companies Pay Penalties For Improving China Rockets"], New York Times, March 6, 2003
- On November 7, 1998, Energy Secretary Federico Peña announced the department had taken actions to strengthen the safeguards and security at the department's defense nuclear facilities. In announcing the actions, Peña released two reports he said he had ordered earlier in the year on safeguards and security. "Several months ago when security concerns were first brought to my attention, I ordered these reports. Today, I am publicly releasing them because I think we have a responsibility to the American people to address these challenges as openly and directly as possible. More importantly, we are taking actions to further secure our facilities," Peña said.["Peña Takes Action to Boost Security at DOE Defense Nuclear Facilities"], DOE Press Release, Nov. 7, 1998, Retrieved June 8, 2006
- The Justice Department separately interviewed both Clinton and Gore about campaign fund-raising on November 12. The FBI was denied the opportunity to ask questions and was only allowed to take notes. Neither Clinton nor Gore were asked a single question about John Huang, Mochtar and James Riady and the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple fundraising event led by Maria Hsia and attended by John Huang and Ted Sioeng.["Justice's Clinton, Gore inquiry criticized"], Associated Press, Dec. 16, 1999
- On November 15, 1997, the media reported that Attorney General Reno recently learned the FBI overlooked intelligence dating back to 1991 that related to the campaign finance scandal investigation. Some of the information belatedly discovered suggested Maria Hsia (who was involved in the Hsi Lai Temple fund-raising event) was an "agent" of China. Hsia denied the claim.["Files on China Embarrass F.B.I. and Reno, and Miff Subject"], New York Times, Nov. 15, 1997 She was later convicted on laundering over $100,000 through the Temple.Eskenazi, Michael, ["For both Gore and GOP, a guilty verdict to watch"], CNN.com, March 3, 2000
- Janet Reno hosted a closed-door meeting regarding the campaign finance scandal November 17 with a Chinese delegation led by China's Justice Minister at the Justice Department in D.C.["Reno asks Chinese minister for help with probe"], Associated Press, Nov. 17, 1997
- On December 2, Attorney General Reno rejected calls for an Independent Counsel to investigate former Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary for accepting money from Johnny Chung and Vice President Gore for fundraising calls placed in White House.["Statement by Reno on Why She Did Not Seek an Independent Counsel"], New York Times, Dec. 3, 1997
- That same day, FBI Director Freeh wrote a memorandum to Reno calling for an Independent Counsel to investigate the fund-raising scandal. In his memo he wrote: "It is difficult to imagine a more compelling situation for appointing an Independent Counsel."Lewis, Neil A., ["Freeh Says Reno Clearly Misread Prosecutor Law"], New York Times, June 16, 1998 Reno rejected the request.
1998
February
- President Clinton authorized the sale to China of a Loral-made satellite sometime in February 1998 against the objections of Justice Department prosecutors who were investigating the company for possible violations of export law regarding the February 1996 failed rocket launch in China.Gerth, Jeff, ["Reports Show Chinese Military Used American-Made Satellites"], New York Times, June 13, 1998 Loral was eventually fined $14 million in 2002 for its involvement in illegally transferring missile technology to China.Mintz, John, ["2 U.S. space giants accused of aiding China Hughes, Boeing allegedly gave away missile technology illegally"], Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2003
- DNC fund-raiser Charlie Trie voluntarily returned to the United States after the Justice Department had organized an international dragnet to apprehend him if he ever left China.Suro, Roberto, ["Clinton Fund-Raiser to Plead Guilty"], Washington Post, May 22, 1999
- Also in February, President Clinton issued a Presidential Decision Directive (PDD-61) that attempted to tighten security in all of the United States' weapons laboratories. The PDD also ordered the Department of Energy to establish a stronger counterintelligence program. The exact text of the PDD is unknown as it has never been publicly released.[Federation of American Scientists website], Retrieved: June 7, 2006
- On March 5, the United States Senate released their report detailing fund-raising improprieties committed by the Democratic National Committee and Clinton administration and China's attempts to influence the 1996 election campaigns with Asian money.
- On June 18, the House of Representatives voted 409-10 to allow the creation of a special committee to investigate whether technology or information was transferred to the People's Republic of China that may have contributed to the enhancement of their nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles. The committee was named the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China.[House Resolution 463], Library of Congress Thomas website, Retrieved: June 6, 2006
- Justice Department campaign finance taskforce head Charles La Bella called on Attorney General Janet Reno July 16 to appoint an Independent Counsel to investigate the controversy.Thomas, Pierre, ["Reno Aide Recommends Independent Campaign Finance Probe"], CNN.com, July 23, 1998 In a report to Reno, La Bella said: " [A] pattern [of events] suggests a level of knowledge within the White House -- including the President's and First Lady's offices -- concerning the injection of foreign funds into the reelection effort."La Bella, Charles, [La Bella Memo], Introduction, page 51, July 16, 1998, Retrieved: April 19, 2006 Additionally, La Bella wrote: "If these allegations involved anyone other than the president, vice president, senior White House or DNC and Clinton-Gore '96 officials, an appropriate investigation would have commenced months ago without hesitation."La Bella, Charles, [La Bella Memo], Introduction, page 14, July 16, 1998, Retrieved: April 19, 2006 Reno rejected his recommendation.
- On October 17, President Clinton signed into law recently passed legislation by Congress that reversed his 1996 Executive Order that shifted control over commercial satellite exports permits from the State Department to the Commerce Department. After signing the bill, President Clinton stated the change was: "...not necessary... and could hamper the U.S. satellite industry." The legislation would not go into effect until five months later.["Congress Returns Export Control Over Satellites to State Department"], Arms Control Association, October 1998, Retrieved: June 8, 2006
- On December 5, The New York Times reported the Justice Department was investigating the Central Intelligence Agency for possibly obstructing justice by giving Hughes Electronics information about the House Select Committee's investigation of the company.Stout, David, ["C.I.A. Is Focus of Inquiry in China Rocket Case"], New York Times, Dec. 5, 1998
1999
January
- On January 3, the House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China released their classified report on their findings regarding China's espionage campaign against the United States to government officials in Congress and the White House.
- Sometime in March, Secretary of State Albright and Vice President Gore learned of China's thefts of America's weapons designs for the first time.Gerth, Jeff, ["A Look at the 94 Who Aren't Talking"], New York Times, May 21, 1999
- On March 6, The New York Times published an article entitled "China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say". The article publicly detailed for the first time the govenment's belief China had stolen classified information on the W-88 nuclear warhead. Gerth, Jeff and Risen, James, ["China Stole Nuclear Secrets From Los Alamos, U.S. Officials Say"], New York Times, March 6, 1999
- The Energy Department fired nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee on March 8, 1999. FBI Director Louis Freeh recommended Lee be fired 18 months earlier. Risen, James, ["U.S. Fires Scientist Suspected Of Giving China Bomb Data"], New York Times, March 9, 1999
- On May 25, the United States House of Representatives released the unanimously agreed upon Cox Report (AKA Report of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China) which detailed publicly for the first time China's espionage campaign against the United States. The report was a redacted version of a still-classified report completed almost 5 months previously. President Clinton and his CIA determined 30 percent of the original report could not be released to the public.["Report: China stole U.S. nuke secrets to 'fulfill international agenda'"], CNN.com, May 25, 1999
- Excerpt from an interview with National Security Advisor Sandy Berger by Jim Lehrer of PBS May 27, 1999:
Notes and references
External links
- [1997 (U.S. Senate) Special Investigation in Connection with 1996 Federal Election Campaigns: Final Report] (PDF files)
- [The Report of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China (AKA Cox Report)]
- [Copy of official Charles La Bella memo to Janet Reno]
- [Copy of official Louis Freeh memo to Janet Reno]
- [U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]
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