[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5208-S5209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CHINA

  Mr. SCHUMER. As trade negotiations with China continue this week, I 
want to press the President again to stay tough and hold out for the 
best possible deal. If China is unwilling to make significant reforms 
to its economic model, President Trump must be prepared to walk away.
  I believe the President's instincts on China are right. I have not 
been afraid to say so, despite our vast political and moral 
disagreements. But if we are going to be successful in these 
negotiations, it will be up to President Trump--no one else--to keep 
the pressure on Chinese leaders this week.
  There are a few things he can do. The most significant point of 
emphasis for the President should be Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant. 
China has responded to the administration's justified restrictions on 
Huawei, unlike any other action the President has taken. It is our 
greatest source of leverage.
  President Trump, hold tough on Huawei. Don't let there be giant 
loopholes.
  I am told that under the purported proposal being talked about, 80 
percent of Huawei's products could still be sold to us. If we have a 
total boycott of Huawei, then China will beg us to come to the table 
and make real concessions. It is the best leverage we have--even better 
than the tariffs. China wants Huawei to dominate the world. They will 
find a way to do it unless we are tough as can be.
  I say to President Trump: I know these multinational corporations are 
pressuring you to cut a quick deal. The President should not listen to 
these big corporations who want him to cut a deal quickly. Many of 
these same corporations are the ones that have shipped jobs overseas 
through the last decades. They are the ones that took jobs away from 
American workers and moved them to China. I understand those corporate 
executives. They are supposed to be totally subservient to their 
shareholders. Their shareholders say: Whatever you have to do to bring 
the price up, do it.
  That hurts American workers. It hurts American security. It hurts the 
American economy, especially when it comes to Huawei.
  President Trump, don't listen to the siren call of those same 
corporations that have created part of the problem with China to now 
get you to back off. Yes, they will have a little pain. They have made 
billions at large from dealing with China and letting China get away 
with stuff like taking jobs away from the United States into much lower 
paid, lower standard jobs in China.

[[Page S5209]]

  Trade negotiations with China are far too important to the future of 
American business and American workers to sacrifice just because a 
handful of American corporations are worried about their quarterly 
profits. Their quarterly profits are nothing compared to America 
maintaining its technological dominance, its technological superiority 
that China keeps trying to steal from us, in some ways legitimate, in 
many ways not.
  Another point of emphasis for the President's team--this is one the 
President cares less about, but that is OK--is China's human rights 
record. China released a new policy outlining the use of force against 
Hong Kong's protest. Its military built up forces along the border. We 
have seen this movie before at Tiananmen. It was a horror movie--one 
that resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of unarmed Chinese 
citizens being mercilessly slaughtered by their own Army under the 
direction of the Chinese Communist Party. We cannot have a sequel to 
this atrocity. The administration should push back against China's 
militarism and stand up for the autonomy and democratic rights of Hong 
Kong citizens.
  I have read some of these columns where they say: Can't we get along? 
We can't get along because, first, China doesn't play fair and has 
stolen trillions of dollars and millions of jobs from America and seeks 
to keep doing it. They have been duping our Presidents, pushing them 
around, making agreements, and breaking them. Second, we can't get 
along with China because of what it does to its citizens--the Uighurs 
in Western China and now the citizens of Hong Kong.
  What we have seen with China is that when we are tough and strong, 
they back off. When we show any glimmer of weakness--as we are showing 
in floating a deal, a lessening of the restrictions on Huawei--they 
take advantage.
  Let me say this to all of those in this administration who are urging 
the President to back off on Huawei and let them buy some of our 
products. There is a bipartisan group here in this Senate who will work 
very hard to prevent that from happening legislatively. The most likely 
vehicle is the NDAA. I think we will get broad support from Democrats 
and Republicans in the House and Senate. So to those in the 
administration who are trying to back off, don't even try it.

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