Cox Report

The report was the work product of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China. This special committee, created by a 409–10 vote of the U.S. House of Representatives on June 18, 1998, was tasked with the responsibility of investigating whether technology or information was transferred to the People's Republic of China that may have contributed to the enhancement of the nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles or to the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. The committee released a classified version of its report in January 1999. The Chairman of the committee was Republican Rep. Christopher Cox of California, whose name became synonymous with the committee's final report. Four other Republicans and Democrats served on the panel, including Representative Norm Dicks, who served as the ranking Democratic member. The committee's final report was approved unanimously by all 9 members. The redacted version of the report was released to the public May 25, 1999. ==Major allegations==

The Cox Report alleged that China had "stolen design information on the United States' most advanced thermonuclear weapons[,]" the W-88, W-87, W-78, W-76, W-70, W-62, and W-56. It focused particularly on the question of the W-88 and the W-70 (the neutron bomb). Regarding the W-88, the allegations were primarily based on information provided by a Chinese walk-in to the American Institute in Taiwan. The walk-in was described as having provided a classified PRC document with classified design information related to the W-88 and technical information related to other warheads. According to the CIA, the walk-in had been directed to provide the documents by PRC intelligence. Writing in 2025, academic Hui Zhang states that the walk-in's intentions have never explained. According to the Cox Report, the alleged theft of W-88 information occurred between 1984 and 1992. The Cox Report contended that the theft of information regarding the W-62, W-76, W-78, and W-87 occurred prior to 1995. ==Reactions==

U.S. Government The Cox Report's release prompted major legislative and administrative reforms. More than two dozen of the Select Committee's recommendations were enacted into law, including the creation of a new National Nuclear Security Administration to take over the nuclear weapons security responsibilities of the United States Department of Energy. At the same time, no person has ever been convicted of providing nuclear information to the PRC, and the one case that was brought in connection to these charges, that of Wen Ho Lee, fell apart. Some U.S. intelligence agents believed that Lee, an employee of Los Alamos National Laboratory, had leaked information to China, but years of investigation failed to connect Lee to any espionage. China The Chinese government called all allegations "groundless." It stated: Director of the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) Hu Side stated, "With regard to the level of our nuclear weapon development, we do not need anything from the U.S. What the U.S. did for us and the whole world was to prove that atomic and thermonuclear weapons worked. That is what you gave us and everyone else. That was the main secret you gave away. Everything else we did on our own." A group of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists re-examined the documents brought by a Chinese walk-in to the American Institute in Taiwan. and Hughes paid a $32 million fine in 2003. ==Timeline==

• June 1995, "Walk-in" agent gives CIA officers classified Chinese document detailing American nuclear designs. • July 1995, CIA director, Energy Secretary, and chief of staff learn of nuclear espionage for first time. • October 31, 1995, FBI agents learn of nuclear thefts. • November 1995, National Security Advisor to the President learns of Chinese nuclear espionage. • Late 1995, Energy Dept. agents discover theft of nuclear designs while analyzing nuclear tests by China. • April 1996, Assist. National Security Advisor, Defense Sec., Attorney General, FBI director learn of nuclear thefts. • July 1997, President learns of Chinese nuclear espionage from National Security Advisor. • December 1999, four Stanford University professors release a report rebutting the Cox Commission, noting that "...facts are wrong and a number of conclusions are, in our view, unwarranted." ==References==