DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / DISSIDENT / PNTR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262688
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  A prominent Chinese dissident is urging the U-
S Congress to approve permanent normal trade status 
for China.  VOA's Leta Hong Fincher reports from 
Beijing, the dissident believes increased trade will 
gradually lead to political reform in China.

TEXT:  Veteran Chinese dissident Ren Wanding has 
emerged from a long period of silence to take up what 
may seem an unlikely cause -- the passage of permanent 
normal trade relations with China.  Mr. Ren has spent 
eleven years in jail for his criticism of China's 
Communist Party and only finished his parole last 
year.  But on the issue of China's entry to the World 
Trade Organization, Mr. Ren agrees with the Beijing 
government.

///REN ACT 1 EST. IN CHINESE, THEN FADE---PRODUCE IN 
WASHINGTON///

He says if the U-S Congress grants China permanent 
normal trade status, the resulting economic openness 
will force the Chinese government to gradually 
introduce political reforms.  In addition, he says the 
Chinese people will have a fuller understanding of the 
outside world as they are exposed to increasing flows 
of information.

His statements come on the eve of a critical vote on 
the issue in the U-S House of Representatives.

Mr. Ren's views differ sharply from many exiled 
Chinese dissidents living in the United States.  One 
such dissident is Wei Jingsheng, who spent 18 years in 
prison for his pro-democracy activism.  Mr. Wei has 
now joined forces with organized labor in the United 
States to lobby undecided members of the House of 
Representatives against the passage of permanent trade 
status for China.  Most opponents of the trade 
legislation argue Washington will give up its ability 
to pressure China on human rights reforms if it 
eliminates the annual review of the trade issue.  
Currently, the United States Congress reviews China's 
progress on human rights every year before deciding to 
allow trade benefits extended to most U-S trade 
partners.  

Mr. Ren says the U-S policy of linking human rights 
with trade has become what he calls "anachronistic."

///REN ACT 2-EST IN CHINESE, THEN FADE---PRODUCE IN 
WASHINGTON///

He says the annual review of China's trade status is 
what he calls "superficial".  For example, he says, it 
might result in the release of a couple of political 
prisoners. But, he says, it has had no real impact on 
China's overall human rights situation. 

However, Mr. Ren says he does support a U-S plan to 
establish a separate commission to monitor human 
rights in China.

At a regular press briefing Tuesday, the Chinese 
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman urged the U-S Congress to 
grant China unconditional permanent normal trade 
status.  She said the legislation has nothing to do 
with human rights in China.  (Signed)
 
NEB/LHF/KBK 



23-May-2000 08:58 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1258 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.