DATE=6/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234096
TITLE=CONGRESS / CHINA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S CONGRESS IS FOCUSING ON SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS,
AS PRESIDENT CLINTON PREPARES FOR HIS TRIP TO BEIJING. V-O-A'S
PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS WHILE SOME CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES ARE
LOOKING AT TRADE ISSUES, OTHERS ARE CENTERING ON THE
ADMINISTRATION'S SATELLITE EXPORT POLICY.
TEXT: CONGRESS WILL VOTE ON MAINTAINING NORMAL TRADE TIES WITH
CHINA DAYS AFTER THE BEIJING SUMMIT. BUT THE DEBATE ON CAPITOL
HILL IS WELL UNDERWAY.
THE VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW IN CONGRESS WERE DRAMATIZED DURING A
HEARING HELD BY THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) TRADE
SUBCOMMITTEE. PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICAN CURT WELDON SAYS CUTTING
OFF CHINA'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADE STATUS WILL DO FAR MORE
HARM THAN GOOD. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO STAY ENGAGED
WITH BEIJING, SO IT CAN DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE CHINESE ON
PROBLEMS RANGING FROM HUMAN RIGHTS TO ARMS PROLIFERATION.
////WELDON ACT////
TO TOTALLY ISOLATE THEM AND POLITICALLY MAKE THE CASE
THAT ALL IS NOT GOING TO BE WELL UNLESS WE TOTALLY
REMOVE THEM FROM THE WORLD COMMUNITY, I THINK, WILL NOT
HAVE THE DESIRED RESULT THAT WE WANT.
////END ACT////
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT NANCY PELOSI DISAGREED, SAYING THE CASE
AGAINST M-F-N IS STRONGER THAN EVER.
/////PELOSI ACT////
TRADE WITH CHINA IS GROWING MORE LOPSIDED. CHINA'S
PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CONTINUES,
AND CHINA'S PEOPLE ARE NOT FREE.
////END ACT////
M-F-N EASILY SURVIVED A CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE IN 1997. BUT THIS
YEAR, EVEN THE STRONGEST SUPPORTERS OF NORMAL TRADE WITH CHINA
PREDICT THE VOTE WILL BE CLOSE.
THAT MAY BE DUE, AT LEAST IN PART, TO THE GROWING CONTROVERSY
OVER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO GRANT WAIVERS TO AMERICAN
HIGH-TECH FIRMS SEEKING TO LAUNCH SATELLITES IN CHINA.
THE LINK BECAME OBVIOUS JUST HOURS BEFORE THE TRADE SUBCOMMITTEE
HEARD ITS FIRST WITNESS. IN THE HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING NEXT DOOR,
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEES MET TO TALK ABOUT THE SATELLITE ISSUE.
///OPTIONAL GILMAN ACT///
THE ADMINISTRATION'S OVERALL POLICY WITH REGARD TO CHINA
HAS BEEN TO EMPHASIZE THE VALUE OF TRADE AND COMMERCE.
////END OPTIONAL ACT///
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN WONDERED ALOUD
ABOUT THE WISDOM OF THE SATELLITE TRANSFER POLICY.
///GILMAN ACT////
MANY OF US ARE CONCERNED THAT IN ITS DESIRE TO PROMOTE
THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF TWO UNITED STATES COMPANIES,
THE ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE UNDERCUT ITS OWN EFFORTS TO
LIMIT THE SPREAD OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA, WHICH
TODAY IS THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPORTER OF WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
///END ACT////
THE FULL HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK TO
CREATE A SPECIAL EIGHT-PERSON PANEL TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER.
THE SELECT COMMITTEE WILL HAVE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE ITS
WORK...AND A BUDGET OF TWO-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/RRM
17-Jun-98 3:22 PM EDT (1922 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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