DATE=7/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264321
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
INTRO: Democrats in the U-S Senate are stepping up
pressure for a vote on granting permanent normal trade
relations to China. But the Republican lawmakers who
set the agenda insist on dealing with Chinese weapons
proliferation first. V-O-A's David Swan reports on
the stalemate.
TEXT: The problem is not the substance of the so-
called P-N-T-R bill, which both parties favor. The
measure is caught up in political and procedural
disputes, which, its supporters say, could eventually
sink the landmark proposal.
After Republicans blocked an attempt to bring up the
bill (Tuesday) Democratic Leader Tom Daschle warned it
might fail if the vote is delayed.
// Daschle act //
I have a very deep concern about this
legislation slipping. This needs to be done
this month. It ought to be done this week. And
we're going to continue to press for its
consideration.
// end act //
Republican Leader Trent Lott raised Democrats' hopes
last month by saying he planned to take up P-N-T-R in
July. While he says that is still his goal, Mr. Lott
is calling for a vote on another bill first -- one
that would punish China for peddling weapons of mass
destruction.
// Lott act //
And so I continue to emphasize to all concerned,
here in the Senate and to the president this
morning, that this issue needs to be addressed
before we go to the China trade bill.
// end act //
The measure would slap sanctions on the Chinese
government as well as any company or person helping
another country acquire missiles, nuclear, chemical or
biological weapons. Concerns about this proliferation
were recently heightened by reports China is still
aiding Pakistan's missile program. Republican Senator
Fred Thompson, the sponsor of the sanctions bill,
points to a high-level meeting in Beijing that failed
to resolve the issue.
// Thompson act //
The Chinese basically told us to get lost when
we expressed our concerns as to what we now know
they're doing in Pakistan. As we know, they
have outfitted Pakistan with their entire
nuclear capability in that tinderbox area of the
world.
// end act //
Democrats complain the Thompson proposal would only
poison relations and perhaps touch off a backlash from
China. The lawmakers say nothing should stand in the
way of the trade bill, which would clear the way for
China to join the World Trade Organization and open a
huge Chinese market to American companies. Senator
Max Baucus argues these steps are far too critical for
P-N-T-R to wait any longer.
// Baucus act //
We all know that the relations with China are
extremely important but also tenuous. And the
more this issue is delayed, the more likely it
is that some untoward, unanticipated, unexpected
event might occur.
// end act //
For now, Republicans are holding up P-N-T-R and
Democrats are blocking the sanctions bill. Both
measures could still be voted on this month but only
if the two sides can agree on a formula for breaking
the logjam. (Signed)
Neb/ds/AMAHL/PT
11-Jul-2000 16:25 PM EDT (11-Jul-2000 2025 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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