The Wall Street Journal-20080215-Politics - Economics- Beijing Rebukes the U-S-- Calls Spy Charges a -Farce-
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Politics & Economics: Beijing Rebukes the U.S., Calls Spy Charges a 'Farce'
Full Text (526 words)BEIJING -- China's foreign ministry blasted the U.S. over allegations of Chinese espionage in two separate cases, saying the charges are a "farce" born of "Cold War thinking."
The comments by a foreign-ministry spokesman Thursday were China's first response to espionage charges announced Monday by the Justice Department against four people, including a U.S. military analyst and a former Boeing Co. engineer. U.S. officials said the cases reflect how China has engaged in aggressive spy tactics, collecting trade secrets and information related to American space programs and weapons sales.
"We request that the U.S. side give up their Cold War thinking . . . . Stop making groundless accusations. It is time to end the farce," Liu Jianchao, spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a media briefing.
A number of sensitive U.S.-China issues are gaining increased attention, from the safety of drugs and other products made in China, to Beijing's close ties to Sudan despite allegations of widespread human-rights abuses in the African country's Darfur region. Mr. Liu defended China's connection with the Sudanese government, in China's first public response since film director Steven Spielberg withdrew from his advisory role to the Beijing Olympic Games, which will take place in August.
Mr. Spielberg, who has faced criticism for his work with Beijing for the Olympic ceremonies, Tuesday announced his decision to discontinue his role as artistic adviser for the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, citing China's connection to the government in Sudan, which many believe is engaged in a genocidal campaign in Darfur.
"We do not believe all the people of the world are hoping to be disturbed by political issues. It's not in line with the spirit of the Olympic charter," Mr. Liu said. He said the Chinese government has offered material aid valued at 80 million yuan ($11.1 million) to the Darfur area, $1.8 million to the African Union and special loans for water-related projects in the region. China will send a company of 315 multifunctional engineers to the area, as well, in addition to a $500,000 donation to a United Nations-fund created to solve the Darfur issue, he said.
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, or Bocog, also issued its first response to Mr. Spielberg's action on Thursday. "Linking the Darfur issue to the Olympic Games will not help to resolve this issue and is not in line with the Olympic Spirit that separates sports from politics," the committee said.
Bocog officials said Thursday that, while they regret Mr. Spielberg's personal statement, "preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies of [the Games] are moving along smoothly and we believe excellent ceremonies will be presented to the world."
The espionage cases, which are unrelated, involve a U.S. military analyst who is accused of selling information to Chinese agents about U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, and a former Boeing engineer accused of passing trade secrets about the Space Shuttle and Delta IV rocket programs to Chinese aviation-industry contacts.
The U.S. government has said China is aggressive in its espionage efforts, which are approaching "Cold War levels," according to national-security officials.
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Kersten Zhang contributed to this article.
