[PEN-L:6626] Meanwhile.....

["Henry C.K. Liu" <hliu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Clinton OKs Chinese Rocket Launch

                        WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton removed
                        the last roadblock Monday from the launch of a
                        Chinese rocket carrying a satellite into space
next
                        month for the U.S.-led Iridium global paging and

                        telephone network.

                        In a required report to Congress, Clinton
certified
                        that the export of satellite fuels and
separation
                        systems for the communications system would not
                        harm U.S. interests. The launch is scheduled for

                        June 7.

                        Specifically, Clinton said the exports were not
                        detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry.
                        Further, he said the material and equipment
``will
                        not measurably improve the missile or space
launch
                        capabilities'' of China.

                        U.S. participation in China's decade-old
commercial
                        satellite launching industry has been under fire
for
                        more than a year. Politicians and defense
officials
                        have accused China of gleaning information from
                        U.S. companies to improve the accuracy of its
                        missiles -- a charge Beijing has repeatedly
denied.


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