AUSTIN, Texas, May 25 (AFP) - Texas Governor and presidential candidate George W. Bush ripped the administration of President Bill Clinton Tuesday for its "failed policies" on China and said the United States should "reassess" its relationship with the Asian nation. Bush said the new congressional report detailing alleged Chinese thefts of US nuclear secrets "shines a glaring light on the current administration's failed policies toward China." Bush, son of former President George Bush, also mocked the Clinton administration's description of China as a "strategic partner." "China is not America's strategic partner," the governor told reporters outside his office in the state capitol building here. "China is a competitor -- a competitor which does not share our values, but now, unfortunately, shares many of our nuclear secrets," he said. Bush said Washington should conduct a thorough review of US export controls to ensure that American technology is not "arming China's military." "I think the balance of power is going to shift as a result of this, and I think it's going to accelerate China's emergence as a nuclear power," he said. "What this shows is we've got to reassess our relationship with China." But he stopped short of calling for trade sanctions or any alteration of his previous stand that China should be admitted to the World Trade Organization. "I still believe China should be admitted to World Trade Organization," he said. "I think that it's important for China to open its markets to US producers and US products.'' Bush, currently leading a crowded field of Republican presidential candidates for the 2000 race, was asked about alleged Chinese espionage that may have occurred under previous administrations -- including that of his father. He acknowledged that the three-volume report by Republican Representative Christopher Cox released Tuesday documented alleged technology thefts spanning back more than two decades. But he said the current administration was the first to be apprised of it. "Presented with detailed information about Chinese espionage, this administration apparently did not take it seriously, did not react properly, and is still trying to minimize the scope and the damage done," Bush said. "There has only been one administration that has been given the news, only one administration knew -- and that's the Clinton administration," said Bush.  