09 May 2000
Text: Rep. Hunter Says China Trade Bill Would Harm U.S. Security
("The reality is that China prepares for war," Hunter says) (540)
Congress should not grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR)
status to China, says Representative Duncan Hunter (Republican of
California).
The lawmaker warned of the threat China poses to the United States in
a May 9 news conference at the Capitol.
"Regardless of the administration's trade objectives, the reality is
that China prepares for war," Hunter charged.
"The Communist regime is producing long-range ballistic missiles,
which are targeted at U.S. bases and American cities. They have
engaged in espionage activities in which U.S. military secrets were
stolen and they have developed weapon systems that threaten the U.S.
and its allies," Hunter said.
"Granting PNTR to China allows the Communist leadership to continue
their military modernization efforts at the expense of America's
national security," he said.
Following is the text of the news release from the office of Rep.
Duncan Hunter:
(begin text)
HUNTER LEADS NATIONAL SECURITY COALITION
AGAINST NORMALIZING TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA
Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-52) held a press
conference today to discuss the national security implications of
granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to the Communist
regime in China. China's trade status with the U.S. is currently
debated and voted on annually by Congress, thus allowing congressional
review and comment on China's activities regarding unfair trade
practices, human rights and national security. Granting PNTR to China
will remove this annual review and has been a major policy initiative
of the Clinton Administration on who advocates making China a
"strategic partner" in global trade.
"Regardless of the administration's trade objectives, the reality is
that China prepares for war," stated Hunter. "The Communist regime is
producing long-range ballistic missiles, which are targeted at U.S.
bases and American cities. They have engaged in espionage activities
in which U.S. military secrets were stolen and they have developed
weapon systems that threaten the U.S. and its allies. Granting PNTR to
China allows the Communist leadership to continue their military
modernization efforts at the expense of America's national security."
Congressman Hunter presented unclassified reports from the Central
Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation describing
China's weapon proliferation activities and their efforts to gather
science and technology information to perform political, military, and
economic espionage. The technology China has acquired has not only
been utilized to bolster its own military capabilities, but has been
sold to several countries with proliferation concerns, such as Iran
and Pakistan.
"Granting PNTR to China, and removing congressional review of the
Communist regime's activities despite their aggressive-behavior
towards the U.S. and its allies, can only be characterized as
irresponsible and stands in direct conflict to efforts to protect our
nation," said Hunter.
Several Members of Congress joined Congressman Hunter at the press
conference, including Representatives Joe Barton-TX, Frank Wolf-VA,
John Hostettler-IN, Joel Hefley-CO, Bob Ney-OH, Charlie Norwood-GA,
Dana Rohrabacher-CA, Neil Abercrombie-HI, and Roscoe Bartlett-MD. The
House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on granting PNTR to
China near the end of May.
(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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