[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DISAPPROVING EXTENSION OF NONDISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT TO PRODUCTS OF 
                       PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 1999

  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, today I voted to extend Normal Trading 
Relations to the People's Republic of China for another year. I cast 
this vote reluctantly after much consideration.
  Our Nation's relationship with China is one of the most critical 
issues facing us in the post-cold-war era. This relationship impacts 
three critical areas: Human rights for the Chinese people; our national 
security interests in the Asian-Pacific region; and the jobs of working 
Americans.
  As a nation, we have continued to reaffirm a policy of engagement 
with China in the hope that continued economic ties will span the 
political and cultural differences that divide us. In pursuing this 
policy, we have seen some progress in areas of freedom of speech and 
worship, but clearly not enough. China has also played a role in trying 
to diffuse tensions between the United States and North Korea. However, 
lately it appears our investment in this policy is yielding ever 
diminishing returns.
  China continues to violate numerous bilateral trade agreements, 
imprisons citizens for their political views and religious 
affiliations, uses prison labor in manufacturing and performs forced 
abortions. A startling new development is China's espionage effort to 
steal our nuclear weapons secrets, its aggressive posture toward 
Taiwan, and its transfer of missile technology to rougue nations around 
the globe.
  I decided to give our Nation's current policy one last chance to 
achieve the goal we all share: encouraging China to become a 
responsible member of the world community. However, I want to be clear 
that my patience is wearing thin with the actions of the Chinese 
regime. I hereby give notice that I will not vote for NTR again unless 
I see a fundamental shift in China's trade, proliferation, and human 
rights policies.
  I believe that our country's policy of engagement has been the right 
one. And again, I feel that there are signs that progress has been 
made. However, we cannot wait forever while China continues to take one 
step forward followed by two steps back. We must constantly re-evaluate 
whether our NTR policy is indeed providing a catalyst for change, or 
whether it is merely providing cover for a bully. Unless clear 
improvements are seen, I will no longer be able to look favorably on 
most-favored-nation status for China.

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