DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-259527
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has appealed to top business
executives to actively support his drive for
congressional approval of permanent U-S trade benefits
for China -- a process complicated by China's renewed
threats to use force against Taiwan. VOA's David
Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton says getting Congress to back the
trade agreement is not just a good thing to do but
essential for U-S interests, and he warns that a
failure to act would be a source of regret for
decades.
The bilateral trade deal, which was concluded late
last year and would open the way for Chinese
membership in the World Trade Organization, has
enjoyed wide support in Congress - especially from
Republicans.
But chances for passage have diminished in recent days
amid new Chinese threats of military action against
Taiwan.
Mr. Clinton told the prestigious U-S Business Council
that the agreement, and WTO membership for China, will
inevitably lead to a more open society in China and
that Beijing's leaders have accepted that as a cost of
continued economic progress.
At the same time, he said the marketplace is not a
universal remedy for the problems in U-S-Chinese
relations, and said the administration will continue
pressing Beijing for - among other things - greater
respect for human rights and a peaceful solution to
the Taiwan question:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
That's why we sanction China as a country of
particular concern under the International
Religious Freedom Act last year, why we're once
again sponsoring a resolution at the U-N Human
Rights Commission condemning human rights abuses
there. We'll continue to press China to respect
global norms on non-proliferation. And we'll
continue to reject the use of force as a means
to resolve the Taiwan question. We'll also
continue to make absolutely clear that the
issues between Beijing and Taiwan must be
resolved peacefully and with the assent of the
people of Taiwan.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton urged the businessmen to push Congress to
move on the trade deal as soon as possible. Both
administration officials and congressional leaders say
unless there is action by June, the issue will likely
become snagged in presidential campaign politics.
That may have already happened to a degree, with Vice
President Al Gore last week appearing to distance
himself from the agreement and promising to try to get
better labor and environmental safeguards in any
subsequent accord.
Mr. Gore - who is seeking the Democratic Party
presidential nomination -- has since reiterated his
backing for the current accord. But Republicans
complain his handling of the issue has eroded support
for the deal among Democrats. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/KL
24-Feb-2000 14:53 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 1953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
