Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233284
TITLE=CLINTON / CHINA TRADE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AS EXPECTED, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL SEEK
EXTENSION OF U-S MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADE BENEFITS FOR CHINA.  
HEAVY RESISTANCE TO THE MOVE IS EXPECTED IN CONGRESS.  V-O-A'S 
DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.  
TEXT:  MR. CLINTON MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT A WHITE HOUSE EVENT 
ON THE SOUTH ASIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS.  AND HE SAID CHINA'S POSITIVE 
ROLE ON THE ISSUE -- INCLUDING ITS CHAIRMANSHIP OF THIS WEEK'S 
BIG-POWER MEETING IN GENEVA -- IS ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES OF HOW A 
POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA SERVES U-S INTERESTS.
HE SAID DESPITE ITS NAME, MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS ONLY PUTS 
CHINA ON THE FOOTING WITH MOST OTHER U-S TRADING PARTNERS.  TO 
DENY THE BENEFITS, HE SAID, WOULD GREATLY DAMAGE THE EMERGING 
RELATIONSHIP: 
                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
         SINCE 1980, WHEN M-F-N WAS FIRST EXTENDED TO CHINA, 
         EVERY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHO HAS FACED 
         THIS ISSUE HAS EXTENDED IT.  NOT  TO RENEW WOULD BE TO 
         SEVER OUR ECONOMIC, AND TO A LARGE MEASURE OUR 
         STRATEGIC, RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA  -- TURNING OUR BACK 
         ON A FOURTH OF THE WORLD AT A TIME WHEN OUR COOPERATION 
         FOR WORLD PEACE AND SECURITY IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN 
         LIGHT OF THE RECENT EVENTS IN SOUTH ASIA.  THIS POLICY 
         CLEARLY IS IN OUR NATION'S INTEREST.
                     ///END ACT///         
RENEWAL OF M-F-N IS OPPOSED BY MANY CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS 
AMID CHARGES CHINA MEDDLED IN U-S ELECTION POLITICS WITH ILLEGAL 
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, AND IMPROPERLY OBTAINED U-S MISSILE 
TECHNOLOGY.  BUT OPPONENTS WOULD NEED TWO-THIRDS MAJORITIES IN 
BOTH HOUSES TO OVERTURN MR. CLINTON'S DECISION, AND WHITE HOUSE 
AIDES SAY CHANCES ARE GOOD THE PRESIDENT WILL PREVAIL. 
THE PRESIDENT SPOKE AFTER MEETING WITH HIS NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADVISER SANDY BERGER, WHO HAD JUST RETURNED AFTER AN ALL-NIGHT 
FLIGHT FROM BEIJING, WHERE HE MADE FINAL PLANS FOR MR. CLINTON'S 
CHINA VISIT LATER THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/MMK
03-Jun-98 12:42 PM EDT (1642 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.