Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233314
TITLE=CONGRESS - CHINA M-F-N (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE FATE OF U-S TRADE BENEFITS FOR CHINA MAY NOW LIE WITH
THE U-S CONGRESS.  MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE HAVE 30 DAYS TO 
SUBMIT RESOLUTIONS PROTESTING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO 
CONTINUE CHINA'S MOST FAVORED NATION TRADE STATUS, WITH VOTES 
EXPECTED WELL BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL AUGUST RECESS.  V-O-A'S 
PAULA WOLFSON DISCUSSED THE LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK WITH A HOUSE 
MEMBER WHO HAS PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE OVER THE YEARS IN THE M-F-N 
DEBATE.
TEXT:  CONGRESSMAN DAVID DREIER IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF M-F-N 
AND FREE TRADE.  THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN RECENTLY SENT A LETTER
TO PRESIDENT CLINTON WARNING THAT THE CURRENT CONTROVERSY OVER 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA COULD SPILL OVER AND AFFECT 
CONSIDERATION OF BEIJING'S MOST FAVORED NATION TRADE STATUS.
                      //// DREIER ACT ////
         IT WASN'T MEANT AS A THREAT AT ALL.  IT WAS SIMPLY 
         STATING THE FACTS. AND THE FACTS ARE THAT VERY SERIOUS 
         QUESTIONS EXIST ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT WAS 
         MORE CONCERNED ABOUT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAN HE WAS
         ABOUT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.
                        //// END ACT ////
MR. DREIER SAYS THE PRESIDENT MUST PROVIDE CONGRESS WITH ANSWERS.
HE SAYS LAWMAKERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ISSUE 
COULD JOIN FORCES WITH LONG TIME CHINA CRITICS IN CONGRESS TO 
POSE A STRONG CHALLENGE TO M-F-N.  HE SAYS THE STAKES ARE 
ENORMOUS.
                      //// DREIER ACT ////
         MY CONCERN IS THAT REVOKING M-F-N IS TANTAMOUNT TO 
         DECLARING ECONOMIC WAR WITH CHINA.  I THINK THAT WOULD 
         BE A MAJOR MISTAKE FOR US.
                        //// END ACT ////
HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH HAS OFFERED SIMILAR VIEWS.  HE SENT A
MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT SHORTLY AFTER THE M-F-N ANNOUNCEMENT, IN
WHICH HE STRESSED HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR NORMAL TRADE 
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.  BUT HE BEGAN THE NOTE BY REMINDING THE 
PRESIDENT OF ONGOING CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS.
THIS TIME, THE SPEAKER IS THE LEAST OF THE PRESIDENT'S WORRIES IN
CONGRESS.   SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER TRENT LOTT HAS INDICATED HE 
HAS DOUBTS ABOUT M-F-N.   AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC (PARTY) LEADER 
RICHARD GEPHARDT IS ONCE AGAIN SPLITTING WITH THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ISSUE.
                       //// REST OPT ////
THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME ON A DAY WHEN LITTLE OFFICIAL 
BUSINESS WAS CONDUCTED ON CAPITOL HILL, SO THERE WAS LIMITED 
REACTION TO THE NEWS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS.  MANY 
SENATORS WERE IN ARIZONA FOR THE FUNERAL OF FORMER SENATOR AND 
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BARRY GOLDWATER.....AND MOST 
HOUSE MEMBERS WERE TRAVELING BACK TO WASHINGTON AFTER A LONG 
HOLIDAY RECESS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/ENE/JO
03-Jun-98 6:18 PM EDT (2218 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.