DATE=1/26/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42450
TITLE=U-S VIEWS OF CHINA
BYLINE= ED WARNER
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   CHINA: FRIEND OR FOE OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN AND PERHAPS
INDEFINABLE? THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION OF FOREIGN POLICY 
SPECIALISTS FROM THE U-S CONGRESS AT A RECENT WASHINGTON MEETING.
VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS THEIR VIEWS RANGING FROM ALARMIST TO 
FAIRLY REASSURING.   



TEXT:   U-S CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER AND HIS AIDE AL SANTOLI 
RECENTLY FLEW OVER THE SPRATLEY ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. 
MR. SANTOLI SAYS THEY WERE STARTLED BY WHAT THEY SAW:  

                        // SANTOLI ACT //

         WE EYE-WITNESSED A SERIOUS CHINESE MILITARY BUILD-UP IN 
         THAT AREA, AND THIS IS GOING TO POSE NOT JUST SHORT-TERM
         POLITICAL PROBLEMS BUT LONG TERM MILITARY PROBLEMS, NOT 
         ONLY FOR THE PHILIPPINES BUT ALSO FOR SOUTH KOREA AND 
         ALSO FOR JAPAN AND TAIWAN. THE REEFS AND SHOALS AND 
         ISLANDS WHERE THE CHINESE COMMUNISTS ARE SETTING UP 
         MILITARY INSTALLATIONS RIGHT NOW BORDER ALONG THE 
         PASSAGEWAY THAT MOST OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND 
         SHIPPING FOR SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN AND JAPAN HAVE TO PASS.

                           // END ACT 

MR. SANTOLI SAID THE PHILIPPINES DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS SPOTTED 
CHINESE FRIGATES CARRYING MISSILES IN THESE WATERS SOME EIGHT 
HUNDRED MILES FROM THE CHINESE COAST. BEIJING CLAIMS THIS 
TERRITORY, BUT THAT IS DISPUTED BY OTHER NATIONS. (THE 
PHILIPPINES, VIETNAM, BRUNEI, TAIWAN AND MALAYSIA)

IF THERE IS A KEY FLASHPOINT FOR CONFLICT, SAID MR. SANTOLI, THIS
IS IT.

HE ISSUED HIS WARNING AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE ASIA STUDIES 
CENTER AT THE PRIVATE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IN WASHINGTON. PETER 
BROOKES, A STAFF MEMBER OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
COMMITTEE, ADDED ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT CHINA:

                        // BROOKES ACT //

         THERE IS A LOT OF CONGRESSIONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE RECENT
         CRACKDOWN ON THE CHINESE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE 
         PROGRESS ON POLITICAL EVOLUTION IN CHINA. CHINA'S HUMAN 
         AND RELIGOUS RIGHTS ABUSES AND SUPPRESSION OF POLITICAL 
         FREEDOM HAVE LED MANY TO EXPRESS CONCERN THAT BEIJING IS
         HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, MUCH TO THE 
         DISAPPOINTMENT OF MANY ON CAPITOL HILL. 

                         // END ACT // 

MR. BROOKES NOTED OTHER CONGRESSIONAL CONCERNS: THE GROWING U-S 
TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA AND BEIJING'S ACQUISITION, PERHAPS 
ILLICITLY, OF ADVANCED U-S WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY. HE PREDICTS AN 
UNEASY YEAR AHEAD FOR U-S - CHINA RELATIONS.

THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED, SAID FRANK JANNUZI, A STAFF MEMBER OF THE
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE. A POTENTIAL GREAT POWER IS 
MAKING ITSELF FELT IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, NOT ALL OF THEM 
CONFORTING TO ITS NEIGHBORS OR TO THE UNITED STATES.

BUT HE THINKS IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO TREAT CHINA ONLY AS AN 
ADVERSARY. IT NEEDS TO BE DRAWN INTO A WEB OF AGREEMENTS THAT 
WILL GIVE IT SOME STANDING IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND AT 
THE SAME TIME CONSTRAIN ITS BEHAVIOUR.

MR. JANNUZI SAID CHINA, HOWEVER PROUD, IS NOT BEYOND INFLUENCING:

                        // JANNUZI ACT //

         I HAVE BEEN MUCH ENCOURAGED BY THE INFLUENCE THAT HONG 
         KONG IS HAVING INSIDE CHINA IN SHAPING THEIR TRADE LAW, 
         THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, THEIR COMMERCIAL LAW. I THINK 
         THE UNITED STATES COULD HAVE A SIMILAR INFLUENCE IN THE 
         AREA OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND CRIMINAL LAW, AND I THINK
         WE SHOULD BE DOING IT. IF ARE GOING TO EXPECT THEM TO 
         HAVE RULE OF LAW, WE NEED TO TRY TO PROPAGATE IT.

                          // END ACT //

DEMOCRATIC TRENDS IN CHINA SHOULD NOT BE EXAGGERATED, SAID MR. 
JANUZZI, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PRESENT CRACKDOWN. THE MUCH TOUTED 
VILLAGE DEMOCRACY IS ONLY PARTIAL. PEOPLE ENJOY ECONOMIC FREEDOM 
BUT NOT POLITICAL. STILL, HE BELIEVES PRESSURE FOR GREATER 
FREEDOM IS BUILDING. 

WHILE THE UNITED STATES SUFFERS FROM A 60 BILLION DOLLAR TRADE 
DEFICIT WITH CHINA, MR. JANUZZI SAID THE BENEFITS SHOULD ALSO BE 
CONSIDERED:

                        // JANNUZI ACT //

         THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LIKE CHEAP CHINESE PRODUCTS. THAT IS
         WHY WE HAVE A TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA. IF YOU EXPLAIN 
         TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, "WE THINK THIS TRADE DEFICIT IS 
         UNSUSTAINABLE, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO RESTRICT CHINESE 
         EXPORTS, AND EVERY COAT YOU BUY AT MACY'S (DEPARTMENT 
         STORE) IS GOING TO COST TWICE AS MUCH AS IT DID BEFORE,"
         I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM OF POLITICAL 
         SUSTAINABILITY THERE AS WELL. 

                         // END ACT // 

MR. JANUZZI SAID THAT IN MATTERS OF TRADE, AS IN OTHER AREAS, THE
UNITED STATES WOULD DO BEST TO TARGET PARTICULAR GRIEVANCES AND 
NOT ENGAGE IN SWEEPING DENUNCIATIONS THAT MAY ANTAGONIZE CHINA 
WITHOUT ACHIEVING THEIR PURPOSE.  (SIGNED)



NEB/PT


26-Jan-99 6:28 PM EST (2328 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.