Asia Times

16 June 1997

[for personal use only]

Selling to the (potential) enemy

The United States House of Representatives has voted to cut aid to Russia if it sells China destroyers armed with advanced anti-ship cruise missiles. The provision, an amendment to the US$6.1 billion US State Department authorization bill, was adopted by a vote of 244 to 184. It would block US$190 million in US aid to Russia during fiscal years 1998 and 1999 if the Russians sell even one supersonic SS-N-22 anti-ship missile to China.

Republicans in the US Congress proposed the amendment after reports were published recently claiming that Russia planned to sell the Chinese two guided missile destroyers equipped with SS-N-22s, a high-speed, sea-skimming weapon the Russians developed to attack US warships equipped with the sophisticated Aegis battle management system, which can control many missiles directed at many separate targets.

"Russian leaders had better take notice," one congressman stated. "People around the world who are making weapons to kill Americans won't get foreign aid." The SS-N-22, according to the congressman, "was designed to destroy American naval vessels, and thus kill American sailors. We should not take lightly that such a weapon is being put in the hands of a potential enemy."

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The Russia List

16 June 1997

djohnson@cdi.org