DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / DISSIDENT / PNTR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262688
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A prominent Chinese dissident is urging the U-
S Congress to approve permanent normal trade status
for China. VOA's Leta Hong Fincher reports from
Beijing, the dissident believes increased trade will
gradually lead to political reform in China.
TEXT: Veteran Chinese dissident Ren Wanding has
emerged from a long period of silence to take up what
may seem an unlikely cause -- the passage of permanent
normal trade relations with China. Mr. Ren has spent
eleven years in jail for his criticism of China's
Communist Party and only finished his parole last
year. But on the issue of China's entry to the World
Trade Organization, Mr. Ren agrees with the Beijing
government.
///REN ACT 1 EST. IN CHINESE, THEN FADE---PRODUCE IN
WASHINGTON///
He says if the U-S Congress grants China permanent
normal trade status, the resulting economic openness
will force the Chinese government to gradually
introduce political reforms. In addition, he says the
Chinese people will have a fuller understanding of the
outside world as they are exposed to increasing flows
of information.
His statements come on the eve of a critical vote on
the issue in the U-S House of Representatives.
Mr. Ren's views differ sharply from many exiled
Chinese dissidents living in the United States. One
such dissident is Wei Jingsheng, who spent 18 years in
prison for his pro-democracy activism. Mr. Wei has
now joined forces with organized labor in the United
States to lobby undecided members of the House of
Representatives against the passage of permanent trade
status for China. Most opponents of the trade
legislation argue Washington will give up its ability
to pressure China on human rights reforms if it
eliminates the annual review of the trade issue.
Currently, the United States Congress reviews China's
progress on human rights every year before deciding to
allow trade benefits extended to most U-S trade
partners.
Mr. Ren says the U-S policy of linking human rights
with trade has become what he calls "anachronistic."
///REN ACT 2-EST IN CHINESE, THEN FADE---PRODUCE IN
WASHINGTON///
He says the annual review of China's trade status is
what he calls "superficial". For example, he says, it
might result in the release of a couple of political
prisoners. But, he says, it has had no real impact on
China's overall human rights situation.
However, Mr. Ren says he does support a U-S plan to
establish a separate commission to monitor human
rights in China.
At a regular press briefing Tuesday, the Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman urged the U-S Congress to
grant China unconditional permanent normal trade
status. She said the legislation has nothing to do
with human rights in China. (Signed)
NEB/LHF/KBK
23-May-2000 08:58 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1258 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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