News

The Cox Report on Communist Chinese Nuclear Espionage

From Jim Nicholson, RNC Chairman

May 25, 1999 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Blogger Tumblr

(The text of the Cox report can be found on the ABC News Web Site.)

At 10:30 this morning, the House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military / Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China ("The Cox Committee") will issue its unanimous report. As you have undoubtedly read and heard, the report contains compelling evidence that the Communist Chinese have stolen American nuclear secrets which are the result of over 50 years of scientific research costing untold billions of dollars. Worse yet, the bipartisan report further suggests that this Administration's reaction to these stunning allegations was to drag its feet, out of fear of political embarrassment.

As one who in my younger days was privileged to command one of the two tactical nuclear weapons platoons (Davy Crockett) in the U.S. Army's infantry, these allegations are particularly appalling to me. I know you share my determination – and that of the unanimous, bipartisan Cox Committee – that Congress exercise its constitutional obligation to get to the bottom of this breathtaking pattern of espionage, so that the responsible persons are held accountable.

It is vitally important that all Republicans be familiar with this Report, and prepared to talk about it.

  1. The communist Chinese have stolen over 50 years worth of American nuclear secrets, costing untold billions of dollars.

    • The allegations of the Cox Report are so appalling that many Americans' first reaction may be to disbelieve the truth. It is imperative that we impress upon all Americans the full scope of what has happened, so that we can begin to address the consequences.

    • The Communist Chinese are now in possession of top-secret designs for every currently-deployed thermonuclear warhead in the U.S. arsenal, missile guidance technology to deliver those weapons, and supercomputers to develop the next generation of weapons – most of it acquired in the last 4 years.

  2. When this administration learned of Chinese espionage, it dragged its feet, out of fear of political embarrassment.

    • While Chinese nuclear espionage has continued since the Carter administration, incredibly, when this administration learned of these allegations, it irresponsibly dragged its feet out of fear of political embarrassment.

    • Congress and the news media have uncovered the fact that this Administration was aware of these allegations as early as July, 1995, but dragged its feet in pursuing the charges and closing the security gaps.

  3. It's now up to congress to fulfill its constitutional oversight role by getting to the bottom of these allegations so those responsible can be held accountable.

    • The Cox Committee is to be congratulated for tackling these astounding allegations in a non-partisan, patriotic and unanimous way. It's now up to Congress to continue its work, so that those responsible can be held to account.