[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     CHINA NOT TRULY READY FOR NTR

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, the old adage that ``old habits die 
hard'' could not be more appropriate to what has occurred in China 
since this Congress last July voted to renew most-favored-nation 
status, now called normal trade relations, or NTR, for another year.
  I would like to provide a short update, because many so-called 
administrative experts are calling for the granting of permanent NTR 
for China before the end of this year. I want you to judge for 
yourself.
  Get this: Police in Southern China arrested 31 people and demolished 
three churches just to crush a Protestant religious group. The 
expectation is that these church leaders will receive a show trial 
which will be a mockery of justice with no due process and be subject 
to severe sentences, all because of their choice of worship.
  And get this: A recent revelation by the Washington Post, 100,000 
people, that is right, 100,000 people were recently arrested, all in 
preparation for the celebrations China has planned for the 50th 
anniversary of the Communist rule. One hundred thousand people put in 
jail under the guise of social stability and safety. How ironic.
  Madam Speaker, NTR as it applies to China actually stands for ``not 
truly ready.'' I urge my colleagues and the administration to think 
hard before we make this choice of permanent status.
  I yield back the balance of my time and any common sense remaining 
regarding our efforts with China.

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