DATE=2/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259577
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton says he thinks he can still
win Congressional approval for the agreement giving
China permanent U-S trade benefits -- this, despite
China's threat this week to use force against Taiwan
if unification talks with the island falter. The
threat has intensified opposition to the trade pact,
which is a pre-condition for Chinese membership in the
World Trade Organization. V-O-A's David Gollust
reports from the White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton is downplaying (minimizing) the
Chinese threat as a bid to influence Taiwan's election
next month. And he says it would be a "terrible
mistake" if Congress used the issue as an excuse for
voting down the trade agreement -- and in the process
isolating China.
China's threat earlier this week to attack Taiwan if
it indefinitely delayed unification negotiations has
complicated what already was a difficult task for the
administration in persuading a skeptical Congress to
accept permanent normal trade status for Beijing.
The president has been promoting the trade deal at
nearly every venue in recent days. And in an
impromptu session with reporters here, he suggested
the Chinese statement on Taiwan had more political
than military significance:
/// Clinton Act ///
You have to see it in the context of the
electoral politics playing out in Taiwan, and
not necessarily assume that some destructive
action will follow -- just as I saw the
Taiwanese provocative comments in the context of
the Taiwanese elections.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Clinton drew a parallel between Monday's Chinese
"white paper" and statements last year by Taiwan's
President Lee Teng-Hui, who infuriated Beijing by
saying it should deal with Taiwan on an equal state-
to-state basis.
He cautioned both parties not to abandon a course of
dialogue and restraint he said has served them well
for 20 years.
The president also reiterated his view that the terms
of the trade agreement disproportionately favor the
United States, and will be recognized as such in the
future:
/// Clinton Act ///
I believe that if we do not do this, our country
will be regretting this five, ten, 15, or 20
years from now, (and) we'll be shaking our heads
and saying: what in the world got a hold of our
judgement in the year 2000? If we do it, 10
years from now we will marvel that it was even a
hard debate.
/// End Act ///
The president's remarks notwithstanding, some members
of Congress believe the trade deal -- which is
especially unpopular among members of Mr. Clinton's
own Democratic Party -- may already be doomed to
defeat.
The problems were underscored Friday when A-F-L - C-I-
O labor federation president John Sweeney and two
other union leaders announced their resignation from a
White House trade advisory panel to protest the
agreement.
They say corporate interests favoring the accord
dominate the panel, and that China should be made to
improve its record on labor standards and human rights
before it is allowed to join the W-T-O. The White
House urged them to reconsider their decision.
(Signed)
NEB/DAG/JP
25-Feb-2000 16:14 PM EDT (25-Feb-2000 2114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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