DATE=1/26/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42450
TITLE=U-S VIEWS OF CHINA
BYLINE= ED WARNER
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA: FRIEND OR FOE OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN AND PERHAPS
INDEFINABLE? THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION OF FOREIGN POLICY
SPECIALISTS FROM THE U-S CONGRESS AT A RECENT WASHINGTON MEETING.
VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS THEIR VIEWS RANGING FROM ALARMIST TO
FAIRLY REASSURING.
TEXT: U-S CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER AND HIS AIDE AL SANTOLI
RECENTLY FLEW OVER THE SPRATLEY ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.
MR. SANTOLI SAYS THEY WERE STARTLED BY WHAT THEY SAW:
// SANTOLI ACT //
WE EYE-WITNESSED A SERIOUS CHINESE MILITARY BUILD-UP IN
THAT AREA, AND THIS IS GOING TO POSE NOT JUST SHORT-TERM
POLITICAL PROBLEMS BUT LONG TERM MILITARY PROBLEMS, NOT
ONLY FOR THE PHILIPPINES BUT ALSO FOR SOUTH KOREA AND
ALSO FOR JAPAN AND TAIWAN. THE REEFS AND SHOALS AND
ISLANDS WHERE THE CHINESE COMMUNISTS ARE SETTING UP
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS RIGHT NOW BORDER ALONG THE
PASSAGEWAY THAT MOST OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND
SHIPPING FOR SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN AND JAPAN HAVE TO PASS.
// END ACT
MR. SANTOLI SAID THE PHILIPPINES DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS SPOTTED
CHINESE FRIGATES CARRYING MISSILES IN THESE WATERS SOME EIGHT
HUNDRED MILES FROM THE CHINESE COAST. BEIJING CLAIMS THIS
TERRITORY, BUT THAT IS DISPUTED BY OTHER NATIONS. (THE
PHILIPPINES, VIETNAM, BRUNEI, TAIWAN AND MALAYSIA)
IF THERE IS A KEY FLASHPOINT FOR CONFLICT, SAID MR. SANTOLI, THIS
IS IT.
HE ISSUED HIS WARNING AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE ASIA STUDIES
CENTER AT THE PRIVATE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IN WASHINGTON. PETER
BROOKES, A STAFF MEMBER OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE, ADDED ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT CHINA:
// BROOKES ACT //
THERE IS A LOT OF CONGRESSIONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE RECENT
CRACKDOWN ON THE CHINESE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE
PROGRESS ON POLITICAL EVOLUTION IN CHINA. CHINA'S HUMAN
AND RELIGOUS RIGHTS ABUSES AND SUPPRESSION OF POLITICAL
FREEDOM HAVE LED MANY TO EXPRESS CONCERN THAT BEIJING IS
HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, MUCH TO THE
DISAPPOINTMENT OF MANY ON CAPITOL HILL.
// END ACT //
MR. BROOKES NOTED OTHER CONGRESSIONAL CONCERNS: THE GROWING U-S
TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA AND BEIJING'S ACQUISITION, PERHAPS
ILLICITLY, OF ADVANCED U-S WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY. HE PREDICTS AN
UNEASY YEAR AHEAD FOR U-S - CHINA RELATIONS.
THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED, SAID FRANK JANNUZI, A STAFF MEMBER OF THE
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. A POTENTIAL GREAT POWER IS
MAKING ITSELF FELT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, NOT ALL OF THEM
CONFORTING TO ITS NEIGHBORS OR TO THE UNITED STATES.
BUT HE THINKS IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO TREAT CHINA ONLY AS AN
ADVERSARY. IT NEEDS TO BE DRAWN INTO A WEB OF AGREEMENTS THAT
WILL GIVE IT SOME STANDING IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND AT
THE SAME TIME CONSTRAIN ITS BEHAVIOUR.
MR. JANNUZI SAID CHINA, HOWEVER PROUD, IS NOT BEYOND INFLUENCING:
// JANNUZI ACT //
I HAVE BEEN MUCH ENCOURAGED BY THE INFLUENCE THAT HONG
KONG IS HAVING INSIDE CHINA IN SHAPING THEIR TRADE LAW,
THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, THEIR COMMERCIAL LAW. I THINK
THE UNITED STATES COULD HAVE A SIMILAR INFLUENCE IN THE
AREA OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND CRIMINAL LAW, AND I THINK
WE SHOULD BE DOING IT. IF ARE GOING TO EXPECT THEM TO
HAVE RULE OF LAW, WE NEED TO TRY TO PROPAGATE IT.
// END ACT //
DEMOCRATIC TRENDS IN CHINA SHOULD NOT BE EXAGGERATED, SAID MR.
JANUZZI, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PRESENT CRACKDOWN. THE MUCH TOUTED
VILLAGE DEMOCRACY IS ONLY PARTIAL. PEOPLE ENJOY ECONOMIC FREEDOM
BUT NOT POLITICAL. STILL, HE BELIEVES PRESSURE FOR GREATER
FREEDOM IS BUILDING.
WHILE THE UNITED STATES SUFFERS FROM A 60 BILLION DOLLAR TRADE
DEFICIT WITH CHINA, MR. JANUZZI SAID THE BENEFITS SHOULD ALSO BE
CONSIDERED:
// JANNUZI ACT //
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LIKE CHEAP CHINESE PRODUCTS. THAT IS
WHY WE HAVE A TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA. IF YOU EXPLAIN
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, "WE THINK THIS TRADE DEFICIT IS
UNSUSTAINABLE, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO RESTRICT CHINESE
EXPORTS, AND EVERY COAT YOU BUY AT MACY'S (DEPARTMENT
STORE) IS GOING TO COST TWICE AS MUCH AS IT DID BEFORE,"
I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM OF POLITICAL
SUSTAINABILITY THERE AS WELL.
// END ACT //
MR. JANUZZI SAID THAT IN MATTERS OF TRADE, AS IN OTHER AREAS, THE
UNITED STATES WOULD DO BEST TO TARGET PARTICULAR GRIEVANCES AND
NOT ENGAGE IN SWEEPING DENUNCIATIONS THAT MAY ANTAGONIZE CHINA
WITHOUT ACHIEVING THEIR PURPOSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
26-Jan-99 6:28 PM EST (2328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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