Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=7-19-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=Congress - China Trade (L)

NUMBER=2-278441

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-S House of Representatives -- as expected -- has voted to extend normal trade relations to China for another year. By a 169 to 259 vote, the Republican-led House rejected a measure to end normal trade ties with Beijing. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: The vote to continue normal trade ties with China came despite concerns over Beijing's human rights record and recent tensions over its handling of a crippled U-S surveillance plane.

Those who sought to end the normal trade status cited Beijing's detention of U-S scholars, its crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement, and China may be harvesting organs from executed prisoners.

Republican Congressman Ben Gilman is a former chairman of the International Relations Committee.

/// GILMAN ACTUALITY ///

The time has come to recognize that China's behavior does not support stability, and we need to respond appropriately. Until it changes its behavior, and until it stops threatening its neighbors, does not repress its citizens, we should not be supporting this repressive government, and its growing military with normal trade benefits.

/// END ACT ///

But Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona embraced the view of the majority.

/// FLAKE ACTUALITY ///

The relevent question is how do we change China for the better? I believe it is done through engagement.

/// END ACT ///

Last year, Congress voted to make normal trade relations with China permanent, as part of the effort to bring China into the World Trade Organization.

The accession process is nearly complete, and supporters of continued trade ties argued it would be short-sighted to suspend the normal trade status now.

With the overwhelming House vote in favor of continuing normal trade ties, the Senate is not expected to consider the measure. (signed)

NEB/DAT/PT