DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA TRADE
NUMBER=5-45515
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton is vowing to fight on for a
deal giving China permanent U-S trade benefits despite
warnings from Congressional leaders that the agreement
is in jeopardy because of new Chinese threats to use
force to settle the Taiwan issue. Mr. Clinton contends
the accord -- opening the way to Chinese membership
in the World Trade Organization - can only increase
the U-S ability to influence Chinese policy. VOA's
David Gollust reports from the White House
TEXT: The bilateral trade deal, hammered out with
China late last year, is popular with Republicans and
it appeared until this week to be poised for approval
by comfortable margins in the Senate and House.
But the equation has changed after China's issuance of
policy paper Monday threatening to use force against
Taiwan if unification talks with the island drag on.
And now, Mr. Clinton faces an uphill struggle for a
trade bill he insists would give the United States
lopsided economic benefits.
Addressing corporate executives of the prestigious
Business Council in Washington Thursday, the President
called the deal a "once in a generation" opportunity
to open Chinese markets to U-S goods and services, and
redress the huge surplus favoring China in two-way
trade.
He said WTO entry will inevitably mean a more open
Chinese society. And challenging critics of the
accord, he said the United States relinquishes no
leverage in influencing Chinese policy on Taiwan,
human rights and other areas:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
To set this up as a choice between eonomic
rights and human rights, or economic security
and national security is a false choice. I
believe that this agreement is vital to our
national security and that every single concern
we have will grow greater, and the problems will
be worse, if we do not bring China into the WTO.
/// END ACT ///
The President spoke a day after Congressional leaders
of both parties warned that the trade deal is in peril
because of China's threat to attack Taiwan.
After a strategy meeting here with Mr. Clinton,
Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle said he disagreed
with some legislators who say the accord - still to be
been formally submitted to Congress - is doomed. But
the Senator, a key ally of the President, said its
future is in doubt and may depend on Chinese rhetoric
in the coming days:
/// DASCHLE ACTUALITY ///
It's always been in jeopardy to a certain
extent. I would say today that if the vote were
taken, it would be a very, very close call.
Comments like that (by China) are unhelpful, are
very disruptive, and I would think that
additional comments like that could jeopardize
and maybe even stop the progress on the
legislation.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Congressional Republicans have seized on the Chinese
"white paper" as an ill-timed gesture of bad faith
from Beijing that not only undermines the trade deal,
but increases chances that Congress will approve
legislation opposed by the White House to strengthen
U-S military links with Taiwan.
But some U-S China experts say the policy declaration
is little more than posturing in advance of Taiwan's
March 18th presidential election, and that China acted
much more belligerently before Taiwan's last election
in 1996, when it fired missiles close to Taiwan's main
ports.
Analyst Stephen Yates of Washington's conservative
Heritage Foundation says the Taiwan dispute has
featured tough rhetoric - but no lethal violence - for
the last 40 years:
/// YATES ACTUALITY ///
I think that this is in large measure a major
dose of Beijing opera. It's very loud. It can be
shocking at times. And some people don't really
enjoy it. But at the end of the day, it's really
for psychological consumption more than it is
about military readiness and actual invasions.
/// END ACT ///
Both White House and Congressional aides say the trade
deal will have to put moved quickly, by June at the
latest, to avoid being stalled permanently by
Presidential campaign politics.
Republicans already are accusing Vice President Al
Gore of undercutting Democratic support for the accord
by saying last week that if it failed, he would seek
stronger labor and environmental safeguards in a
subsequent agreement. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/PT
24-Feb-2000 19:20 PM EDT (25-Feb-2000 0020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
