Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233198
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / M-F-N  (L-ONLY-CQ)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  OFFICIALS IN BEIJING SAY THE ANNUAL REVIEW BY THE U-S 
CONGRESS OF CHINA'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADE STATUS IS OUTMODED.
THE CHINESE FEEL THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN SUCH STATUS PERMANENTLY.  
FROM BEIJING, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS THE 
DEBATE OVER CHINA'S LOW-TARIFF TRADE STATUS COMES AS PRESIDENT 
CLINTON PREPARES FOR A STATE VISIT TO BEIJING LATER THIS MONTH.
TEXT:  THE CONTENTIOUS ANNUAL DEBATE IN WASHINGTON OVER WHETHER 
CHINA SHOULD CONTINUE TO GET PREFERENTIAL TRADING STATUS PROMISES
TO BE EVEN MORE HEATED THIS YEAR.  CONTROVERSIES OVER U-S 
SATELLITE LAUNCHES ON CHINESE ROCKETS, ALLEGATIONS OF CHINESE 
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 1996 CAMPAIGN AND 
RISING NUCLEAR TENSIONS IN ASIA ARE COMPLICATING MATTERS.
THE ADMINISTRATION MUST SUBMIT RENEWAL OF CHINA'S 
MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS TO CONGRESS BY WEDNESDAY.  ***
BEIJING'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO ANNUAL 
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL SINCE THE MASSACRE OF PRO-DEMOCRACY 
DEMONSTRATORS NEAR TIANANMEN SQUARE IN 1989.  PRESIDENT CLINTON 
IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A STRONG CASE FOR CONTINUING CHINA'S 
PREFERENTIAL TRADE STATUS THIS YEAR.
THE DEBATE COMES AT A KEY MOMENT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT WILL BE 
LEAVING ON A STATE VISIT TO CHINA LATER THIS MONTH.  SENATE 
MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT, WHO HAS SUPPORTED RENEWAL IN PAST 
YEARS, SAYS HE IS NOW UNDECIDED -- BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER 
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE ALLEGATIONS, AND CHARGES THAT THE PRESIDENT'S 
APPROVAL OF SATELLITE DEALS HELPED CHINA IMPROVE ITS BALLISTIC 
MISSILES.  OTHER LEGISLATORS HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED DOUBTS.
CHINA, WHICH WANTS WASHINGTON TO GIVE IT PERMANENT 
MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS, SAYS THE ANNUAL REVIEW IS  NOT  
CONDUCIVE TO THE SMOOTH DEVELOPMENT  OF TRADE RELATIONS.  FOREIGN
MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER 
(TODAY/TUESDAY), SAID THE DEBATE DESTABILIZES SINO/U-S RELATIONS.
                     /// INTERPRETER ACT ///
 WE HOPE THAT THE U-S GOVERNMENT AND CONGRESS WOULD PROCEED FROM 
THE GENERAL INTEREST OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS AND CHANGE THE 
OUTMODED  PRACTICE OF ANNUAL REVIEW OF M-F-N STATUS AS EARLY AS 
POSSIBLE, AND SETTLE THIS ISSUE...
                         /// END ACT ///
BEIJING-BASED DIPLOMATS BELIEVE A NEGATIVE VOTE ON MOST-FAVORED- 
NATION RENEWAL WOULD LEAVE MR. CLINTON WITH LITTLE OR  NO  
LEVERAGE TO CONVINCE THE CHINESE TO ADDRESS U-S CONCERNS ON HUMAN
RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/RW/WTW
02-Jun-98 9:34 AM EDT (1334 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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