DATE=7/2/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40845
TITLE=CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT AND CHINA
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON RETURNS THIS WEEKEND FROM WHAT THE WHITE
HOUSE AND SOME OUTSIDERS ARE CALLING A SUCCESSFUL STATE VISIT TO 
CHINA.  NONETHELESS, THE PRESIDENT COMES HOME TO A VIGOROUS 
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE ON CHINA POLICY, WITH HOUSE AND SENATE VOTES
LIKELY IN THE DAYS AHEAD. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.

TEXT: IF ONE WORD COULD SUM UP THE PREVAILING ATTITUDE TOWARD 
CHINA ON CAPITOL HILL, IT WOULD BE "CONFLICTED."  THERE ARE SHARP
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE AND WITHIN THE TWO PARTIES. 
THE FLASHPOINTS INCLUDE OLD ONES LIKE HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRADE AS 
WELL AS NEW, SENSITIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY 
TRANSFERS TO BEIJING. 

THE DIVISION IS NOWHERE MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE ISSUE OF 
RENEWING CHINA'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION TRADE STATUS, WHICH CONGRESS
WILL DECIDE LATE THIS MONTH.  THE GROUP OPPOSING M-F-N CUTS 
ACROSS PARTISAN BOUNDARIES, ENCOMPASSING VERY CONSERVATIVE 
REPUBLICANS AND EQUALLY LIBERAL DEMOCRATS.  SOME OF THE HARSHEST 
ATTACKS COME FROM MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENT'S OWN PARTY LIKE 
CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY PELOSI.

                           // PELOSI ACT //

         NINE YEARS AGO THEY ROLLED OUT THE TANKS AGAINST THEIR 
         OWN PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING PEACEFULLY IN TIANANMEN SQUARE.
         NINE YEARS LATER ONCE AGAIN PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS 
         "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BUTCHERS OF BEIJING. WE'RE GOING TO 
         GIVE YOU MOST-FAVORED NATION STATUS."

                            // END ACT //

WHILE FEW IN CONGRESS WOULD PRAISE CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD,  
THESE CONCERNS HAVE NEVER DERAILED M-F-N.  THOSE WHO FAVOR THE 
SYSTEM ARE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY AGAIN, THOUGH THEY SAY THE VOTE 
COUNT MAY BE CLOSER THAN USUAL AND THE RHETORIC MORE HEATED.

MR. CLINTON IS FACING ANOTHER CHALLENGE IN THE SENATE, WHICH IS 
EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SLAP BEIJING WITH NEW SANCTIONS.  
THE MEASURE WOULD BAN U-S TRAVEL BY CHINESE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN
FORCED ABORTION OR RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, AND REQUIRE THE UNITED 
STATES TO FIGHT CHINA'S WORLD BANK LOANS.  THOUGH LAWMAKERS LAID 
THE PROPOSAL ASIDE DURING THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP, DEMOCRATIC 
SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN SAYS IT IS NOT GOOD POLICY AT ANY TIME. 

                         // LIEBERMAN ACT //

         I HOPE WE CAN FIND A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE COURSE TO GO 
         FORWARD THAN BEING UNNECESSARILY PUNITIVE ABOUT 
         EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
         CHINA THAT DOESN'T PLEASE US.  A LOT WILL HAPPEN THERE 
         THAT DOESN'T PLEASE US.

                             // END ACT //

MEANWHILE, HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES WILL PROBE THE SATELLITE 
AFFAIR TO FIND OUT IF CHINA ACQUIRED SECRET TECHNOLOGY THROUGH 
WHITE HOUSE-APPROVED CONTACTS WITH U-S AEROSPACE FIRMS.  THOUGH 
THE INQUIRY IS FAR FROM COMPLETE, SOME REPUBLICANS SUGGEST THE 
DAMAGE IS ALREADY CLEAR.

SENATOR FRED THOMPSON, WHO SUPPORTS FREE TRADE AND 
MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS FOR CHINA, SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION'S 
PRIORITIES ARE STILL OUT OF LINE.

                          // THOMPSON ACT //

         WE ARE TOLD THAT WE HAVE GIVEN SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT
         OUR OWN PENTAGON ASSESSES THAT HAS HARMED OUR NATIONAL 
         INTEREST.  WE CAN NOT CONTINUE DOWN THAT ROAD, I DON'T 
         CARE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS ECONOMICALLY.  WE DO NOT NEED 
         TO DO THINGS THAT COMPROMISE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

                            // END ACT //

THIS ISSUE FRAMES THE LARGER DEBATE - ON ONE HAND, THE WISH FOR 
GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY, AND ON THE
OTHER, SUSPICION OF CHINA'S MOTIVES.  LIKE THE PRESIDENT, AND 
THOSE IN OTHER GOVERNMENTS, CONGRESS IS SEARCHING FOR 
ANSWERS.(SIGNED)

NEB/DS/LTD/PLM

02-Jul-98 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.