[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19513-19514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               U.S.-CHINA STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, the meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic 
and Economic Dialogue this week in Washington is an important 
opportunity. It is a chance to advance a comprehensive relationship 
between our two countries and to highlight the importance of 
fundamental rights to that relationship.
  I am chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The 
Commission examines human rights and rule of law developments in China. 
In recent years, I have witnessed human rights concerns being pushed to 
the margins of the U.S.-China relationship. This is due in part to 
China's

[[Page 19514]]

growing financial, diplomatic and military strength. Sidelining our 
human rights concerns with China is a strategic mistake for the U.S.
  The advancement of human rights concerns with China is more important 
to U.S. interests than ever. The reporting of the Commission I chair 
makes this crystal clear.
  Press censorship in China makes it possible for toxic food and public 
health crises to spread globally.
  The harassment of whistleblowers and the suppression of criticism and 
dissent remove internal checks against environmental damage that not 
only hurts ordinary Chinese citizens but has a global impact.
  Abuses of low-wage labor compromise goods that come to the U.S. have 
harmed U.S. consumers, as well as Chinese consumers.
  The government's control of mass media and the internet allow it to 
stoke nationalist anger against the United States in moments of crisis. 
This can be terribly dangerous.
  Let there be no doubt--I have enormous respect for China. I respect 
the progress China has made by lifting hundreds of millions of people 
out of poverty. I admire its rich and remarkable culture and immensely 
talented people. But I firmly believe that its people should be free to 
speak their minds and practice their chosen faiths without fear.
  The news is not all bad. There have been positive developments in 
recent years. The government has enshrined in its Constitution the 
state's responsibility to protect and promote human rights. The 
Congressional-Executive Commission on China has also reported on 
China's recent adoption of new labor protections, and the relaxing of 
restrictions on foreign journalists inside China. These and other gains 
were made partly as a result of sustained international pressure. The 
meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue presents another opportunity 
to press for more such gains.
  But let us be clear: Nothing we ask of China regarding human rights 
is inconsistent with commitments to international standards to which 
China in principal already has agreed. So we are not necessarily 
looking just for more agreements. We are waiting for action. We are 
waiting for China's leaders to demonstrate true commitment, not just in 
words but in deeds, to prioritizing human rights, including worker 
rights, and the development of the rule of law in no lesser way than 
they have prioritized economic reform.
  In closing, the Strategic and Economic Dialogue this week provides an 
opportunity to underline how advancing the welfare of citizens must not 
be separated from a demonstrated commitment to human rights and the 
rule of law. To remain faithful to our pursuit of basic American 
values, we must seize that opportunity.

                          ____________________