09 May 2000
Text: Rep. Hostettler Warns of National Security Threat from China
(Hostettler argues against permanent China NTR May 9) (730) Four members of the House Armed Services Committee, citing national security reasons, came out against granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status in a May 9 news conference at the Capitol. They were joined by four other lawmakers concerned about China's threat to U.S. interests. Representatives John Hostettler (Republican of Indiana), vice chairman of the Armed Services Research and Development Subcommittee, Duncan Hunter (Republican of California), chairman of the Procurement Subcommittee, Joel Hefley (Republican of Colorado), chairman of the Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee, and Armed Services Committee Member Representative Gene Taylor (Democrat of Mississippi) presented a solid phalanx of opposition to a trade bill supported by the Republican leadership in Congress and the Clinton Administration. Joining them were Republican Congressmen Joe Barton (of Texas), Frank Wolf (of Virginia), Bob Ney (of Ohio) and Charlie Norwood (of Georgia). "I do not believe we should aid and abet Communist China's dangerous military build-up by extending to it the benefits of PNTR," Hostettler said. "U.S. dollars," he charged, "are strengthening Beijing's ability to make war." Following is the text of the news release from the office of Rep. John Hostettler: (begin text) HOSTETTLER SAYS PNTR WITH CHINA THREATENS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY WASHINGTON -- Extending Permanent Normal Trade Relations to China poses serious national security threats to the United States, U.S. Rep. John Hostettler (IN-8) said today. At a Capitol press conference with other members of the House Armed Services Committee, Hostettler said that by ending the annual Congressional consideration of China's trade status, the United States loses leverage in dealing with the Communist giant. Worse, he said, the economic benefits of PNTR will allow, if not encourage, Beijing to enhance its ongoing military buildup, posing a serious threat to the United States and its allies. "I do not believe we should aid and abet Communist China's dangerous military build-up by extending to it the benefits of PNTR," Hostettler said. "Chinese exports to the United States already equal about one-third of China's economy. That infusion of dollars ends up fueling the expansion of the People's Liberation Army, emboldening China in its increased practices of proliferation, threats and blackmail. In short, U.S. dollars are strengthening Beijing's ability to make war. "Don't take my word for it though," Hostettler added. "In 1997, the PRC formally codified Deng Xiaoping's 16-Character Policy, which literally means: 'Combine the military and civil; combine peace and war; give priority to military products; let the civil support the military."' Hostettler said daily during his five years on the Armed Services Committee he has watched with growing alarm as China rapidly modernizes its military, acquiring and developing offensive military forces such as bombers, attack submarines and destroyers, nuclear and chemical weapons capabilities, and deploying advanced nuclear warheads atop new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM's), many of which are targeted at U.S. cities. "Moreover," he continued, "China has been notoriously active in the proliferation of aircraft, missile technology and chemical weapons to nations unfriendly to the U.S., such as Iran and communist North Korea, even in direct defiance of international treaties and agreements it has signed. Just this morning The Washington Times reported that two years after President Clinton allowed the sale of civilian nuclear technology to China, "Beijing is blocking implementation of a 1985 cooperation agreement by refusing to provide assurances it won't sell U.S. know-how to other nations." Such action demonstrates China's willingness to ignore U.S. strategic interests, Hostettler said. "We must send a strong message to China that we don't want U.S, consumers paying for its ability to threaten our citizens or our allies," he said. "It is imperative that we not naively cater to a nation that behaves like an adversary simply in order to make a buck." The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on granting PNTR to China near the end of May. Hostettler, vice chair of the Armed Services Research and Development Subcommittee, was joined at the press conference by Armed Services Procurement Chairman Duncan Hunter-CA, Armed Services Military Installations and Facilities Chairman Joel Hefley-CO, Rep. Joe Barton-TX, Rep. Frank Wolf-VA, Rep. Gene Taylor-MS, Bob Ney-OH, and Charlie Norwood-GA. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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