DATE=3/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259746
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton -campaigning (Wednesday) for
permanent U-S trade benefits for China -- says that
expanding internet access in China will be good for
American high-tech industries and will "inevitably"
contribute to political liberalization there. VOA's
David Gollust reports from the White House.
TEXT: The agreement giving China permanent normal
trading status with the United States is under attack
in Congress by among others, critics of China's human
rights policy.
But Mr. Clinton contends that the market-opening
commitments China is offering as part of the trade
deal will lead to a more open society in China --
along with big potential profits for American
business.
Mr. Clinton made the argument at a campaign-style
event promoting the trade accord at the headquarters
of an internet subsidiary of the M-C-I-WorldCom
telecommunications company in a Virginia suburb of
Washington D-C.
China agreed to slash tariffs on U-S goods and
services under the bilateral trade agreement concluded
late last year as a condition for Chinese entry into
the World Trade Organization. Administration officials
say China needs WTO membership to keep its economy
growing. And Mr. Clinton told his high-tech audience
Chinese leaders know full-well the implications of
open-markets:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The leaders of China are not foolish people,
they're intelligent people. They know if they
open these markets, they know if you go in there
and everybody gets connected to the internet,
that change is coming more rapidly and in ways
that you cannot control, and people will be able
to define their future independent of the
government's ability to control it more than
ever before.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton said the United States would be as he put
it "unilaterally disarming" by turning away from the
opportunities presented by the trade deal, which he
insisted would simultaneously advance both U-S
business and human rights interests:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
What is good economics is also consistent with
our values. The late (U-S Supreme Court) Chief
Justice Earl Warren once said that liberty is
the most contagious force in the world. I
believe the internet inevitably is an instrument
of human liberty. And it will be in China as
well.
/// END ACT ///
The accord would eliminate Chinese tariffs and quotas
on U-S computers and information technology over five
years and also U-S companies to invest in Chinese
internet services, which are already growing
exponentially.
Mr. Clinton said two U-S congressional delegations
will go to China next month to meet among others
embattled Chinese religious leaders, whom he said
overwhelmingly support the trade pact.
Leaders of both parties have warned that the trade
accord, still to be formally presented to Congress, is
in danger - in part because of recent Chinese threats
to use force to settle the Taiwan issue. Opposition is
most intense among members of the President's own
Democratic party who say China should be required to
improve labor and environmental standards. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/PT
01-Mar-2000 18:19 PM EDT (01-Mar-2000 2319 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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