DATE=9/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-CHINA TRADE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266230
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  The U-S Senate is moving closer to granting 
permanent normal trade relations [P-N-T-R] to China, 
though some lawmakers say the plan should also protect 
human rights.  V-O-A's David Swan reports on the 
latest (Thursday's) developments.


TEXT:  Senators overwhelmingly voted (92 to five) to 
proceed with debate on the bill, with final action 
expected sometime next week.  The Senate then turned 
back (69 to 28) the first of several proposed 
amendments, this one designed to advance religious 
freedom in China.

The vote against the amendment is a hopeful sign for 
P-N-T-R supporters.  They say any change in the bill 
would effectively kill it because it would send the 
issue back to the House of Representatives, where it 
might fail in the heat of election-year politics.

That argument came under fire from Democratic Senator 
Paul Wellstone, who sponsored the religious freedom 
proposal.  Mr. Wellstone says the Senate has a duty to 
speak out for persecuted Christians, Muslims and 
Tibetans.

            /// Wellstone Act ///

      This amendment is not a China-bashing amendment.  
      This amendment goes to the very heart of what we 
      say we're about as a country and what we say 
      we're about as a Senate.

            /// End Act ///

But Republican Chuck Hagel called the measure 
misguided.  He says expanding trade with China will 
boost living standards and improve personal freedom.  
Mr. Hagel denies the Senate is ignoring human rights 
abuses.

            /// Hagel Act ///

      We are not looking the other way.  We are 
      finding a course that some of us believe is the 
      correct course to influence the behavior of 
      China.

            /// End Act ///

There are more amendments to deal with, including one 
that could punish Beijing for selling weapons of mass 
destruction to other countries.  The bill's supporters 
fear that idea may be hard to defeat.

Normalizing trade relations would help clear the way 
for China to join the World Trade Organization and 
open the lucrative Chinese market to American 
business.  President Clinton hopes to sign the 
landmark bill into law before leaving office.   
(Signed)

NEB/DS/JP




07-Sep-2000 13:30 PM LOC (07-Sep-2000 1730 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.