[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 2, 1992]
[Page 363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 363]]

Message to the House of Representatives Returning Without Approval the 
United States-China Act of 1991

March 2, 1992
To the House of Representatives:
    I am returning herewith without my approval H.R. 2212, the ``United 
States-China Act of 1991,'' which places additional conditions on 
renewal of China's most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status.
    The sponsors of H.R. 2212 believe they can promote broad economic 
and foreign policy objectives in China by placing conditions on the 
renewal of China's MFN status. They expect that the Chinese will improve 
respect for human rights, cooperate in arms control, and drop barriers 
to trade, given a choice between losing MFN and addressing these 
concerns.
    Let me state at the outset that my Administration shares the goals 
and objectives of H.R. 2212. Upholding the sanctity of human rights, 
controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and free and fair 
trade are issues of vital concern. My objection lies strictly with the 
methods proposed to achieve these aims.
    There is no doubt in my mind that if we present China's leaders with 
an ultimatum on MFN, the result will be weakened ties to the West and 
further repression. The end result will not be progress on human rights, 
arms control, or trade. Anyone familiar with recent Chinese history can 
attest that the most brutal and protracted periods of repression took 
place precisely when China turned inward, against the world.
    Recent agreements by the Chinese to protect U.S. intellectual 
property rights, to abide by the Missile Technology Control Regime 
Guidelines, to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by April, 
and to discuss our human rights concerns--after years of stonewalling--
are the clear achievements of my Administration's policy of 
comprehensive engagement.
    We have the policy tools at hand to deal with our concerns 
effectively and with realistic chances for success. The Administration's 
comprehensive policy of engagement on several separate fronts invites 
China's leadership to act responsibly without leaving any doubts about 
the consequences of Chinese misdeeds. Our approach is one of targeting 
specific areas of concern with the appropriate policy instruments to 
produce the required results. H.R. 2212 would severely handicap U.S. 
business in China, penalizing American workers and eliminating jobs in 
this country. Conditional MFN status would severely damage the Western-
oriented, modernizing elements in China, weaken Hong Kong, and 
strengthen opposition to democracy and economic reform.
    We are making a difference in China by remaining engaged. Because 
the Congress has attached conditions to China's MFN renewal that will 
jeopardize this policy, I am returning H.R. 2212 to the House of 
Representatives without my approval. Such action is needed to protect 
the economic and foreign policy interests of the United States.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
March 2, 1992.