[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
END THE APATHY AND THE POLICY OF APPEASEMENT TOWARD CHINA
(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, in 1980, China was first granted MFN
status. Since then, very little has changed. In fact, it would be easy
to argue that the situation has worsened. In the last 5 years, China
has accumulated a $117 billion trade surplus with the United States,
most of which is being used by the Chinese Government to build a war
machine--a United States financed and outfitted Communist army.
Also troubling is the continued theft of American intellectual
property rights. Even the Clinton administration has called the Chinese
``the most egregious violator of agreements intended to combat the
piracy of American products.
Our apathy and appeasement have actually worsened our position as a
trade partner and as a steward of democracy in one of the world's most
volatile regions.
The House will soon vote to end China's privilege. We will soon have
the opportunity to send a message to the world that America will not
support a rogue nation. We cannot continue to ignore the truth' we must
be proactive in changing China's policies.
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