[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3774-S3776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WASHINGTON STATE AND CHINA

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to discuss an issue of tremendous 
importance to Washington State and the Nation. The issue is China and 
specifically, my trip to both Hong Kong and Beijing over the recent 
Easter recess.
  My trip to Hong Kong and China was an opportunity for me to discuss 
candidly the issues to be confronted by the United States Senate; most-
favored-nation trade status for China, the World Trade Organization, 
Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese sovereignty, the trade imbalance 
between the United States and China, my personal concerns on human 
rights, and numerous other issues.
  Additionally, I took this trip intent on raising the profile of 
Washington State in both Hong Kong and China. In the early 1950's, 
Senator Warren Magnusson of the State of Washington whose seat I now 
occupy was the first United States Senator to promote closer ties 
between the United States and China.

[[Page S3775]]

  Since that time, Washington State has led the way in advancing United 
States-China relations for both the American and Chinese people. No 
other State in the country is as engaged and involved in China as my 
State. We have strong trade and cultural ties to China and indeed to 
all of Asia.
  Washington State's involvement in China is much deeper than trade and 
economics; educators and students, lawyers and judges, adoptive 
families, religious organizations, military personnel, and many others 
in my State have relationships across the Pacific with counterparts in 
China.
  Several Washington cities including Tacoma, Seattle, Kent, and 
Spokane all have growing sister city relationships with cities or 
counties in China. Washingtonians are going to great lengths to foster 
change in China; participating in local elections, providing resources 
to counter cultural biases against young girls, and working with the 
Chinese to create a commercial and a civil legal system for that 
country.
  A diverse group of Washington State interests traveled with me to 
China at their own expense. This group included representatives from 
agriculture, aviation, high technology, retail, financial services, 
heavy machinery, and ports.
  In Hong Kong, we met with officials from the United States Consulate, 
the American Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Government and others. 
On the street and in official meetings, I sought to determine the mood 
of the people of this British Colony as it speeds toward its new status 
as a Special Administrative Region of China.
  Certainly there are concerns about the transition; concerns that we 
require the careful oversight of the United States and others who care 
about the Hong Kong way of life. I also found much optimism among Hong 
Kong's people and its leaders; a certain confidence that the people of 
Hong Kong will take it upon themselves to preserve the prosperous and 
beautiful enclave that they created from barren rock and the 
surrounding waters.
  I particularly enjoyed a meeting with Ms. Sophie Leung, an appointed 
member of the Provisional Legislature that will replace the current 
Legislative Council following the transition. Though I question China's 
decision to replace the current democratically elected legislature, I 
was heartened by Ms. Leung's passion for Hong Kong, her background as a 
civic activist, and her intention to support and participate in 
upcoming direct elections. Ms. Leung is also a part-time resident of 
Washington State. Interestingly, a number of the leaders selected to 
govern Hong Kong following the transition are actually American 
citizens.
  Like many in this body, I am following closely the transition and 
China's handling of the new Special Administrative Region. A heavy 
handed approach to the transition by the Chinese side will be 
disastrous for Hong Kong; disastrous for the mainland whose development 
is largely funded by and through Hong Kong; and disastrous for Pacific 
oriented States like Washington which utilize Hong Kong as a gateway to 
China and other parts of Asia.
  Mindful of the threats to Hong Kong, it is important for all who want 
to influence change in China to recognize that Hong Kong's transition 
may be our best opportunity to further influence the mainland in such 
important areas like the rule of law, respect for individual rights, 
and the many democratic principles that we cherish in the United 
States.
  As I traveled from Hong Kong to Beijing for additional discussions, I 
couldn't help but wonder which side would have a greater impact 
following the transition; 1.2 billion Chinese scattered throughout an 
area the size of the United States or 6 million Hong Kong capitalists 
occupying land that is similar in size to the Puget Sound area in 
Washington State.
  In Beijing, I met with China's Vice Premier, Chinese Trade Ministry 
officials, and Chinese leaders involved in financial services, 
transportation, agriculture, electronics, and aviation.
  United States Ambassador Jim Sasser, our former Senate colleague, was 
particularly gracious and giving of his time and experiences in China 
to me and the Washington State delegation. Ambassador Sasser hosted a 
dinner for me and the Washington delegation, and our group was 
delighted to be joined for the evening by former Speaker Tom Foley. At 
my suggestion, Ambassador Sasser invited a number of prominent Chinese 
women known for their advocacy work within China on issues relating to 
women and children.
  In my meeting with Vice Premier Li Lanqing, I focussed on the trade 
imbalance between the United States and China, my concerns and those of 
my constituents on human rights, and the importance of China abiding by 
its commitments on Hong Kong.
  Washington State exports to China grew by almost 40 percent in 1996 
but overall United States exports to China did not grow at a rate 
comparable to the growth of China's exports to the United States.
  I stressed to the Vice Premier my hope that the Chinese side would 
soon agree to allow the International Red Cross access to Chinese 
prisons and reinforced with him that the United States would continue 
to push for improvements in human rights. A commitment to human rights 
is part of our moral fabric; and I was encouraged by Vice Premier's 
acknowledgment of U.S. interest in this issue and of his offer to 
engage in a dialog on this issue.
  Hong Kong's transition will clearly be the international event of 
1997. The Chinese are well aware of this; I reminded the Chinese that 
the United States is watching closely; Taiwan is watching; indeed all 
of the world is watching China's handling of the Hong Kong transition.
  In China, I had the opportunity to raise a number of other issues of 
importance to my State and my constituents. I encouraged the Chinese to 
increase access to their markets for Washington State goods with 
particular emphasis on resolving the TCK smut issue which keeps 
Northwest wheat out of China's marketplace and tariff reductions which 
would allow our horticultural producers to export significant volumes 
of apples, cherries, and pears to China.
  The Chinese have made progress in combating piracy of intellectual 
property rights; I reminded them of ongoing problems and our continued 
interest in stopping both the production and export of pirated United 
States technology.
  With the People's Bank of China, we discussed the importance of 
allowing more United States banks and insurance companies the 
opportunity to operate in China. This will provide new opportunities 
for small- and medium-sized firms seeking export to China.
  We also discussed many other important issues including the growth of 
the Internet in China, the competitive advantages of Washington's ports 
and transportation infrastructure, the future energy needs of China, 
food security issues including China's ability to feed its people, 
problems associated with large, unproductive state-owned enterprises, 
and growth patterns in coastal and rural parts of China.
  Numerous other high-profile congressional delegations also traveled 
throughout China and to Hong Kong during the recess. Vice President 
Gore visited the region with stops in Beijing and Shanghai. Several of 
my Senate colleagues including Senators Lieberman, Mack, and Jeffords 
traveled to China during the recess as did Speaker Gingrich and a large 
number of House Members. United States policy makers are visiting China 
and Hong Kong in record numbers. Close to 100 Members of Congress have 
visited China in the last few months. And more will follow as the Hong 
Kong return to Chinese sovereignty is now less than 100 days away.
  I returned from my first visit to China convinced of the importance 
of engaging the Chinese, with heightened awareness of the difficult 
issues in the United States-China relationship, and very encouraged by 
the congressional interest in Asia and China. And I am certain 
Washington State will continue to be the bellwether State in gauging 
both the rewards and the pitfalls of the important United States-China 
relationship.
  Already there is significant interest in the Nation's Capital in 
China. It is my hope that this interest will manifest itself in a 
genuine debate about good U.S. policy rather than good partisan 
politics. I certainly intend to represent forcefully the interests of 
my State and our country with a voice for good U.S. policy in the 
coming months.
  I yield the floor.

[[Page S3776]]

  Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Enzi). The Senator from Massachusetts is 
recognized.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I believe that, under the previous 
agreement, I was going to have 8 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I understood that the other side has some 22 minutes 
left.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. They have 26 minutes.
  Mr. KENNEDY. That would bring us to the hour of 12:30. I have 
consulted with the floor manager of the legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the recess time be extended from 12:30 
until 12:40 and that the time therein be divided equally between the 
manager and Senator Leahy.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
recognized then for 7 minutes and that Senator Harkin and Senator 
Wellstone each be recognized for 3 minutes each.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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