FBIS3-41247 "jptdd007__l94037"
JPRS-TDD-94-007-L Document Type:JPRS Document Title:Narcotics 14 February 1994
CHINA

Gelbard Visit Viewed as `Successful,' Greater Anti-Crime Cooperation Urged

HK0702090294 Hong Kong TA KUNG PAO in Chinese 4 Feb 94 p 1 HK0702090294 Hong Kong TA KUNG PAO Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Special article" by staff reporter Chang Shao-wei (1728 1421 1218): "China and the United States Increase Cooperation in Cracking Down on Crimes"] [Text] "The Chinese and U.S. Governments have clear differences in terms of human rights, missile proliferation, and trade methods and we neither deny nor ignore them. However, since internationalized crime poses a common threat to both our countries, we are making joint efforts to face squarely the common interests we have on this issue." That is the view aired by Robert Gelbard, U.S. assistant secretary of state for international narcotics matters, in a speech in Hong Kong yesterday. It was precisely for this reason that Gelbard recently led a high-level delegation to China to seek increased cooperation in cracking down on crime. Since President Jiang Zemin and President Clinton met last November, Sino-U.S. relations have further improved. Gelbard's trip proves that, as two big powers, China and the United States have many spheres of cooperation. With the rise in international organized crime, the focus of the crackdown has shifted to how to get more information to accurately deal a crushing blow from top to bottom at transnational crime syndicates. This makes it necessary for the law-enforcement departments of various countries to work with good cooperation. In his speech, Gelbard described how transnational organized crime syndicates carry out illegal activities with advanced weapons, telecommunications, and transport facilities, as well as monetary means. He said: "If the boss of an Asian syndicate enterprise wants to fix up a kidnapping case in New York, he can order his subordinate in New Jersey by directly dialling his subordinate's mobile telephone number using satellite telecommunications equipment. Afterward, they can make contact again by coded fax. If funds are needed, the money can be remitted to the United States electronically, possibly through a Hong Kong bank. The ransom can also be remitted to a bank in the Bahamas, then sent again from there to Panama, eventually arriving in a numbered Swiss bank account. The entire process can be completed in one day." This description is like the plot of a movie but it is really shocking, especially the fact that what has been revealed is only the tip of the iceberg. Given such modern methods of committing crime, it has become even more difficult to crack down on crime. Gelbard pointed out that half the drugs on the U.S. market come from Asia. With the opening up of the country, the economic development, and the influx of Western ideas, various different factors have contributed to the resurrection of drug-taking in China, where it had disappeared for decades. The drug-trafficking activities through China's long borders have also become increasingly rampant. The crime syndicates in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States not only smuggle drugs to other countries through the Chinese mainland but also smuggle "human cargo" to the United States in a big way, making it more urgent for China and the United States to jointly crack down on such organized crime. As a financial and information center, Hong Kong is naturally regarded by the international crime syndicates as a paradise for money laundering and a supreme headquarters for mobilizing and organizing various criminal activities. What is needed now is for the world's law-enforcement authorities to make joint efforts to crack down on the frenzied criminal activities. It is gratifying that such joint efforts are being stepped up. Gelbard said that from his talks with Chinese officials he had got the impression that the Chinese side approached drug-trafficking and other issues very seriously and conscientiously and that Sino-U.S. cooperation would be further strengthened. His successful visit to China also shows that through their joint efforts China and the United States can more effectively crack down on crimes and safeguard people's security and social stability.