[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2964-H2965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1745
               PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS FOR CHINA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I have taken this time out to talk about a 
very important issue that we are going to be addressing later this 
month here in the Congress, but I of course would join in extending 
happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers all over this country and all 
around the world, for that matter.
  Mr. Speaker, the issue that I am talking about is an issue that, 
according to several of my colleagues, will be the single most 
important vote that we will cast in our entire careers here in the 
Congress. The question has to do with whether or not we are going to 
pry open a market with 1.3 billion consumers in the People's Republic 
of China and force this very repressive society to live with a rules-
based trading system, or are we going to say that the United States of 
America will have nothing whatsoever to do with that sort of effort.
  It seems to me that it is the most important vote that we will cast 
possibly in this session of Congress at least, because it really says 
are we going to maintain our role as the paramount global leader, and 
are we going to maintain our economic prosperity, or are we going to 
turn our backs on it and cede that to other countries in the world.
  Well, I think that we have a responsibility not only to the United 
States of America, but to the rest of the world. Why? Because the 
United States of America is the greatest symbol of political pluralism. 
This building in which I am standing right now is the symbol throughout 
the world of freedom and democracy. It says to me that we have a 
responsibility to continue to provide the inspiration and the promotion 
of those things. And that is a message which I am happy to say is 
moving widely throughout repressive societies like the People's 
Republic of China. It is a message which can be sent with even greater 
enthusiasm if we bring the People's Republic of China into the World 
Trade Organization and, as I said, force them to live with a rules-
based trading system.
  There are many people here who regularly talk about the fact that 
over the last 20 years we have provided one-way access for China to the 
U.S. consumer market and they have said why do we not get into their 
market so that our first class workers and businesses can export goods 
and services to those 1.3 billion consumers? Well, in the week of May 
22, we will have an opportunity right here to cast a vote in favor of 
opening up that market so that it can benefit our workers and 
businesses.
  But there is an issue which in many way transcends this, and is one 
that is of great concern to me and I know to many of my colleagues 
here. That has to do with the question of our western values; the 
things that we hold here near and dear; the recognition of human 
rights; as I mentioned earlier, political pluralism, making sure that 
we have religious freedom. Those things need to expand throughout 
China.
  But guess what, Mr. Speaker. Since we have seen the opening of China, 
since what was known as the Shanghai Communique in 1972 when Richard 
Nixon opened China, we have seen improvements take place. There is a 
great deal of room for improvement. I do not stand here as an apologist 
for the policies that exist in Beijing, but we do have to recognize 
that there have been very positive steps taken that move us closer to 
the kind of China that the world needs.
  As was pointed out by President Ford in the event that was held at 
the White House earlier this week, maintaining stability in Asia is in 
our U.S. national interest, and this is a very important issue which 
will play a role in helping to maintain stability there.
  I think it is important for us, Mr. Speaker, to take a few moments to 
look at some of the statements that have been made by outspoken 
dissidents in China. In this morning's Washington Post, there was an 
article which talked about three dissidents who actually believe that 
granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China will do more than 
almost anything to address the very important concerns of human rights 
and religious freedom and those other concerns that are out there.
  Tong Bao, who is one of the most prominent dissidents, actually lays 
out a really key distinction that needs to be made here. He talks about 
the division. He said that there are some in China who believe that 
things must ``get as bad as possible.''
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that that is wrong. I do not think that we 
should have things get as bad as possible, and neither does Tong Bao. 
He happens to believe that it is important for us to do everything that 
we can to improve that situation there, and in so doing, I believe that 
we will create an opportunity to get our western values through 
Permanent Normal Trade Relations.
  So I will simply close, Mr. Speaker, by saying that I believe that we 
have a wonderful chance for success. I hope that every single one of my 
colleagues,

[[Page H2965]]

Democrat and Republican alike, will join with the Republican leadership 
here and President Clinton in bringing about a positive vote on this.

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