DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-259527
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  President Clinton has appealed to top business 
executives to actively support his drive for 
congressional approval of permanent U-S trade benefits 
for China -- a process complicated by China's renewed 
threats to use force against Taiwan.  VOA's David 
Gollust reports from the White House.

TEXT:  Mr. Clinton says getting Congress to back the 
trade agreement is not just a good thing to do but 
essential for U-S interests, and he warns that a 
failure to act would be a source of regret for 
decades. 

The bilateral trade deal, which was concluded late 
last year and would open the way for Chinese 
membership in the World Trade Organization, has 
enjoyed wide support in Congress - especially from 
Republicans.

But chances for passage have diminished in recent days 
amid new Chinese threats of military action against 
Taiwan.

Mr. Clinton told the prestigious U-S Business Council 
that the agreement, and WTO membership for China, will 
inevitably lead to a more open society in China and 
that Beijing's leaders have accepted that as a cost of 
continued economic progress.

At the same time, he said the marketplace is not a 
universal remedy for the problems in U-S-Chinese 
relations, and said the administration will continue 
pressing Beijing for - among other things - greater 
respect for human rights and a peaceful solution to 
the Taiwan question:

            /// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///

      That's why we sanction China as a country of 
      particular concern under the International 
      Religious Freedom Act last year, why we're once 
      again sponsoring a resolution at the U-N Human 
      Rights Commission condemning human rights abuses 
      there. We'll continue to press China to respect 
      global norms on non-proliferation. And we'll 
      continue to reject the use of force as a means 
      to resolve the Taiwan question. We'll also 
      continue to make absolutely clear that the 
      issues between Beijing and Taiwan must be 
      resolved peacefully and with the assent of the 
      people of Taiwan.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Clinton urged the businessmen to push Congress to 
move on the trade deal as soon as possible. Both 
administration officials and congressional leaders say 
unless there is action by June, the issue will likely 
become snagged in presidential campaign politics.

That may have already happened to a degree, with Vice 
President Al Gore last week appearing to distance 
himself from the agreement and promising to try to get 
better labor and environmental safeguards in any 
subsequent accord.

Mr. Gore - who is seeking the Democratic Party 
presidential nomination -- has since reiterated his 
backing for the current accord.  But Republicans 
complain his handling of the issue has eroded support 
for the deal among Democrats. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/KL



24-Feb-2000 14:53 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 1953 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.