ACCESSION NUMBER:219293 FILE ID:EP-409 DATE:03/12/92 TITLE:WHITE HOUSE REPORT, MARCH 12, 1992 (03/12/92) TEXT:*92031209.EPF *EPF409 03/12/92 * WHITE HOUSE REPORT, MARCH 12, 1992 (MFN override in House, Patriot, reforms) (620) News Briefing: Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater briefed. Following is an unofficial transcript of East Asia/Pacific excerpts: (begin unofficial transcript) CHINA MFN VETO OVERRIDE Q: Marlin, 110 members of the Republican Party (in the House of Representatives) voted to override the president's veto yesterday. What does that do to party solidarity when 110 members of your own party don't 1gree with your trade policy and the sanctions policy on China? FITZWATER: It means that they don't agree on this issue. And there are a lot of issues they don't agree on. Q: Why is the president so staunch on it if even the clear majority of his party isn't willing to submit to party discipline on a veto vote? FITZWATER: The president's staunch on a number of issues that aren't -- don't have 100 percent support. And the reason is because he believes in it, he believes it's right for the country and right for the nation, and he shows leadership by staking out his position and saying what he wants to do. In fact, I couldn't -- I'm not sure -- well, I shouldn't say that. ISRAELI PATRIOT MISSILE IN CHINA? Q: Do you have anything on this report that Israel sold a Patriot missile to China? FITZWATER: All I have is the denial by Israel, and they have said Israel did not transfer Patriot missiles or missile technology to China. These reports have no basis. Q: Are you looking into it beyond that, or are we accepting that? FITZWATER: Well, we always consider these matters from an intelligence point of view, but I don't think we would have any public comment on it.... Q: Did you say you did not know whether or not the government is not investigating the intelligence report? FITZWATER: No, I said we are not commenting and I'm giving you Israel's comment, who is directly involved. Q: Do you accept Israel's explanation? FITZWATER: Well, we don't comment on what we know in terms of intelligence about other countries and we have nothing to offer at this point. Q: Does that mean that you're not willing to accept Israeli's denial at this point? FITZWATER: It means we don't have any conclusions at this point that we're willing to say. Q: What kind of communication is going on here? This is a serious situation here. Are we just leaving this to our intelligence community or has there been some direct communication? FITZWATER: Well, I know there certainly have been contacts and consultations between the countries, between us and Israel. That would take place on a normal basis. And there's intelligence information and conclusions that we have. But what I'm saying is that we are not willing to comment on the situation at this point. ECONOMIC REFORMS IN CHINA Q: There was a report this morning about economic reforms in China -- FITZWATER: I don't want to rule them out, and then it turns out tomorrow we do it. I want to keep all our options open. Q: Well, why can't you find out whether they're going to do it or not? FITZWATER: Because I want to keep all our options open. We've got another day and a half of deliberation here. Q: There was a report this morning about economic reforms in China, but not political reforms. In the press it's being presented partly as possibly a breakthrough. Has the president or his national security advisor talked to Chinese leaders this morning about what's going on? You know, what is the White House take on what's going on? 1 FITZWATER: We have not had a chance to examine those or have discussions on them at this point. (end unofficial transcript) NNNN .