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DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251976
TITLE=SENATE-CHINA TRADE(S & L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE HAS SIGNALED IT SUPPORTS NORMAL TRADE WITH
CHINA, DESPITE THE TENSION OVER TAIWAN AND BEIJING'S ALLEGED 
SPYING AT NUCLEAR WEAPONS LABS.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.
TEXT:   IN A PROCEDURAL VOTE, THE SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY TURNED 
BACK AN ATTEMPT TO REVOKE CHINA'S NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS - 
FORMERLY MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS.  DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MAX 
BAUCUS SAYS WHATEVER DISPUTES THE TWO COUNTRIES MAY HAVE, DENYING
TRADE WOULD BRING DISASTER.
                        // BAUCUS ACT //
         YOU STICK YOUR FINGER IN SOMEBODY'S EYE, OR YOU TREAT 
         SOMEBODY LIKE AN ENEMY, AND GUESS WHAT?  THEY'RE GOING 
         TO BE AN ENEMY.  THEY'RE GOING TO REACT ADVERSELY.
                          // END ACT //
BUT INDEPENDENT BOB SMITH SAYS THE SENATE CAN NOT IGNORE CHINA'S 
MISDEEDS - ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS, PIRATING AMERICAN GOODS AND 
THREATENING TAIWAN.
                         // SMITH ACT //
         HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY GIVING A NATION WHO HAS DONE THIS, 
         AND IS DOING THIS, MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADING STATUS?
                          // END ACT //
SENATORS ALSO BLOCKED ANOTHER OF MR. SMITH'S PROPOSALS, WHICH 
WOULD CURTAIL U-S TRADE WITH VIETNAM.
                  // REST OPTIONAL FOR LONG //
WHILE THAT COUNTRY DOES NOT ENJOY FULL TRADE RELATIONS, PRESIDENT
CLINTON HAS RELAXED THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO THAT FOLLOWED THE 
VIETNAM WAR.  LAST YEAR HE EASED A COLD WAR-ERA LAW (THE 
JACKSON-VANIK AMENDMENT) TYING COMMERCE TO FREE EMIGRATION IN 
COMMUNIST COUNTRIES.  REPUBLICAN SENATOR AND FORMER PRISONER OF 
WAR JOHN MCCAIN SAYS THIS ENGAGEMENT SHOULD CONTINUE.
                        // MCCAIN ACT //
         I HARBOR NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION 
         IN VIETNAM.  THERE'S CLEARLY ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.  THE 
         QUESTION IS HOW BEST TO ADVANCE BOTH THE CAUSE OF HUMAN 
         RIGHTS AND U-S ECONOMIC AND SECURITY INTERESTS. THE 
         ANSWER LIES IN THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF U-S RELATIONS 
         WITH VIETNAM.
                          // END ACT //
THE VOTES DO NOT REPRESENT THE LAST WORD ON THESE ISSUES IN THE 
CURRENT SESSION OF CONGRESS.  DEBATE MAY BE HEATED WHEN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES TAKES UP CHINA'S TRADE STATUS IN THE COMING 
WEEKS.
HOWEVER, CONGRESS HAS NEVER REJECTED THOSE BENEFITS AND IS NOT 
EXPECTED TO START NOW, EVEN AFTER THE SPY SCANDAL.  LAWMAKERS ARE
LIKELY TO RESPOND BY TIGHTENING SECURITY AT NUCLEAR LABS, NOT BY 
PUNISHING CHINA.(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/TVM/PT
20-Jul-99 4:36 PM EDT (2036 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.