[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2002

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that President Bush 
will be making a state visit to the People's Republic of China in late 
February.
  As Secretary of State Colin Powell has said, the United States and 
China have many common interests. Among several large and continuing 
disagreements are religious freedom and the issue of Taiwan. I hope 
that President Bush will urgently raise the issues of freedom of 
religion and also stand firm on the issue of Taiwan in his discussions 
with the Chinese.
  According to a report in yesterday's Washington Post, Chinese 
government documents show detailed efforts on the part of the Communist 
leadership to target religions including the use of secret agents to 
infiltrate Protestant religious groups, crushing underground Catholic 
churches, and the use of force against the banned Fulan Gong spiritual 
movement.
  It is nothing less than a nationwide campaign to stamp out religion 
so that all the Chinese people can worship is the state. When Secretary 
Powell appeared before the Foreign Operations Subcommittee yesterday, 
he stated that when the United States and China have disagreements over 
religious freedom, ``we do not hold back our criticism.'' It is 
therefore imperative for President Bush to speak out loudly and 
strongly against this denial of this basic human right--freedom of 
religion--when he is in China next week.
  Regarding Taiwan, the United States and the Republic of China on 
Taiwan have been maintaining strong relations for decades. In recent 
years, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the 
United States and Taiwan, Taiwan has been unwavering in its support of 
the United States. In the wake of September 11, Taiwan shared our 
mourning and its government ordered all flags lowered at half staff for 
two days. Taiwan stands with the United States on nearly all issues 
including safeguarding human rights and fighting terrorism around the 
globe.
  Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is not an issue that divides the United States 
from China. As long as we stand firm on our principles of providing 
what Taiwan needs militarily, there will be stability in the Taiwan 
Strait and that is in everyone's best interests.
  I wish President Bush best of luck in his journey to China.

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