CHINA'S NUCLEAR BLACK MARKET

A CIA report, disclosed in The New York Times today, concludes that China has recently delivered key components of missile systems to Iran and Pakistan in violation of an international arms accord.TIME diplomatic correspondent Dean Fischerreports that State Department officials insist they have known about the worrisome shipments for some time. (Some details also surfaced earlier this week in the Washington-based Defense News.) While U.S. officials may simply want to send China a public warning through the press, Fischer says, the move may also be calculated to counter criticism of President Clinton for jeopardizing relations with China byallowing the president of Taiwan to make a private visit to the U.S. this month-- a decision made over the objections of several key foreign policy advisers.