[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1213-E1214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CALLING ON CHINA TO RELEASE LI SHAOMIN AND ALL OTHER AMERICAN SCHOLARS 
              OF CHINESE ANCESTRY BEING HELD IN DETENTION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 25, 2001

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Smith of New Jersey for 
authoring this crucial and timely resolution.

[[Page E1214]]

  It troubles me to report that one of my constituents is among the 
many Chinese-Americans being held without cause by the government of 
the People's Republic of China.
  As an author and scholar, Mr. Wu would often travel to the land of 
his ancestry for business and research.
  However, on April 8th, Wu Jianming (Woo John-Ming) of Elmhurst, New 
York was detained by security forces while traveling in the People's 
Republic of China. He was taken to an isolated house outside the city 
of Guangzhou for questioning.
  Chinese authorities detained Mr. Wu for nearly a week before finally 
notifying the American consulate of the arrest in violation of standard 
protocol.
  Though the Consul General was finally granted access to assess the 
physical and emotional well being of Mr. Wu, the circumstances 
surrounding his captivity are simply unacceptable. He has now been held 
for nearly three months without being formally charged with any crime.
  Chinese diplomats here in Washington argue that Mr. Wu's case is a 
matter of national security, and provided no further details.
  Mr. Wu is a husband, a scholar, and a U.S. citizen. He is not a 
subversive element.
  For the sake of Sino-American relations, it is essential that he be 
immediately and unconditionally released.
  It troubles me to report that Mr. Wu's story is not an isolated 
incident. The recent detention of Chinese-American scholars has 
strained our relationship with Beijing.
  As members of the international community and partners of the United 
States, it is imperative that they be held to the same standards as all 
other nations.
  Therefore, I proudly join Mr. Smith in supporting the release of 
these men without further delay, and I urge my colleagues to join us in 
that endeavor.

                          ____________________