[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 92 (Thursday, June 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 1997

  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in 
becoming an original cosponsor of the China Human Rights and Democracy 
Act of 1997. I especially wish to applaud the actions of my colleagues, 
Representatives John Porter, David Dreier, Jim Kolbe, and Matt Salmon, 
in writing and pushing this legislation. In my opinion, Mr. Speaker, 
this bill is the right, targeted approach to take in opposing the 
policies of the People's Republic of China that all Americans find 
repugnant. As evidenced by the vote last Tuesday, the most-favored-
nation [MFN] or normal trade status debate is the wrong place to 
express our disagreements with the Chinese Government.
  This legislation would allow Radio Free Asia to broadcast 24 hours a 
day to give the Chinese people the truth about their government and 
current events. In addition, the bill would help various foundations to 
promote democracy, civil society, and the rule of law in China and 
would encourage more international exchanges between our two peoples. 
It would also promote a voluntary code of conduct for United States 
businesses. The vast majority of United States companies operating in 
China already provide exemplary models to China of how to conduct 
business and treat people equally and fairly. This code would help give 
these U.S. firms concrete goals to measure their success.
  The bulk of the legislation focuses on promoting human rights in 
China. It requires an annual report on human rights conditions in 
China. The bill also proposes to create a prisoner information registry 
so that people in the United States could plead for specific political 
prisoners in China. It would also deny visas to Chinese Government 
officials who have been involved in human rights abuses or in the 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The bill would also 
publish and disseminate a list of Chinese companies that are affiliated 
with the People's Liberation Army so the American people would know if 
a particular product they wish to buy is made by a Chinese firm 
affiliated with the Chinese military.
  However, I have one minor but important reservation about the 
legislation, which I hope can be worked out before it reaches the House 
floor for a vote. The legislation requires a one-to-one ratio between 
State Department Foreign Service officers with an expertise in human 
rights and Commerce Department U.S. Foreign & Commercial Service 
[US&FCS] officers, who are experts at promoting U.S. exports.
  The China Human Rights and Democracy Act mandates that the State 
Department appoint at least six human rights officers. The problem is 
that there are 13 US&FCS officers in China, with 9 in Beijing alone. 
The problem is further compounded by the fact that the Commerce 
Department currently only has seven of these nine positions in Beijing 
filled. Plus, one of these officials is really an export control 
officer who is charged primarily with ensuring that Chinese importers 
comply with United States export control laws. If the State Department 
is unable to fund more than the minimum number of six human rights 
officers, then the unintended consequence of this legislation will 
force the Commerce Department to withdraw as many as seven US&FCS 
officers from China to comply with this one-to-one ratio. Thus, the 
real-life practical effect of the legislation could translate into 
having only five full-time US&FCS officers for the entire country of 
China. Compare that with Tokyo, Japan, 12 US&FCS officers, or Seoul, 
South Korea, 7 US&FCS officers, and I hope you see the need, Mr. 
Speaker, for more than 5 US&FCS officers for all of China.

  Our foreign competitors already have dozens more export promotion 
officials in China than us. This legislation could place United States 
exporters at a competitive disadvantage I believe the better way is to 
have the legislation stress the importance of stationing human rights 
officers in China but leave the number of these officers up to the 
discretion of the State Department and not require a one-to-one ratio 
to US&FCS officers.
  Mr. Speaker, with this minor reservation, I am pleased to join on as 
an original cosponsor to the China Human Rights and Democracy Act of 
1997, and I hope to work out this problem through the committee 
process.

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