[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE TRUTH ABOUT A TYRANT

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton recently rolled out the 
red carpet for one of the most repugnant figures of our time, Chinese 
Defense Minister Chi Haotian, better known as the butcher of Tiananmen 
Square. General Chi ordered the slaughter of hundreds, perhaps 
thousands of brave Chinese students who were demonstrating for freedom.
  The picture of General Chi's tanks rolling in to crush the democracy 
movement remains etched in our minds forever. It was almost 
incomprehensible, then, to learn that our President would honor Chi at 
the White House. I am not sure whether coffee was served but 
sickeningly our military was ordered to give the butcher a 19-gun 
salute. Meanwhile Chi denied that the Tiananmen Square massacre ever 
occurred.
  I do believe that we can improve human rights in China by increasing 
our presence there and promoting American values. Increased contacts 
with China can help but only if we follow the course set by President 
Ronald Reagan in speaking the truth about evil. We must not shrink from 
calling evil by its name, and we must not paper over truth about 
tyrants such as Chi, no matter what positions they occupy or what ties 
we are seeking.

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