    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 26, 1998]
    [Page 1062]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1062]]

    Exchange With Reporters in the Village of Xiahe, China
    June 26, 1998

        Q. Good morning, sir.

    Human Rights

        Q. Mr. President, the Chinese arrested a couple of dissidents, one
    apparently for intending to do an interview with an American journalist.
    I wonder, does such action make it more difficult for you to make the
    case to the American people that your policy of engagement is improving
    the lot of the Chinese people, is improving the human rights situation?
        The President. No. I found the reports disturbing, and I've asked
    Ambassador Sasser to raise it with the
    Chinese authorities. And if true, they represent not China at its best
    and not China looking forward but looking backward.
        One of the reasons that I came here was to discuss both privately
    and publicly issues of personal freedom. So I think it's very important
    for me to do that. But I think it makes the case--it makes it all the
    more important that we continue to work with the Chinese and to engage
    them.

    Taiwan

        Q. There have been some suggestions that you're going to sort of
    accept the Chinese insistence that during the press conference, that
    you're going to sort of declare the United States decision not
    supporting Taiwan independence, not supporting Taiwan's bid for the
    United Nations, and not supporting one China/one Taiwan but two Chinas.
    Is it going to happen?
        The President. Well, first of all, you should come to the press
    conference to see what happens. But our position with regard to Taiwan
    is embodied in the three communiques and in the Taiwan Relations Act and
    in the facts of our relationship over the years. So I think it's obvious
    that there will be no change in our position one way or the other on
    this trip.

    Susan McDougal's Release From Prison

        Q. Mr. President, on a domestic matter, Mr. President, are you happy
    with the Susan McDougal--Mr. President, are you happy for Susan
    McDougal? Do you feel----
        The President. Well, I'm concerned about her health, and I hope that
    she gets better now. I think it's a--I hope that the judge's decision puts her in a position where she can get
    over her pain and her difficulty.

    Supreme Court Decision on the Line Item Veto

        Q. Sir, the line item veto, sir, was struck down. What do you think
    about that?
        The President. I'm disappointed. I think that having it has made it
    much easier to control spending, and I think that--and control special
    interest tax breaks. And so I hope very much that the Congress will not
    use this decision to move away from the path of fiscal discipline that
    we have followed the last 5 years that has gotten us to our present
    state of economic prosperity. I think it would be a mistake.
        Thank you.

    Note: The exchange began at 10:35 a.m. in the village. In his remarks,
    the President referred to Susan McDougal, Whitewater investigation
    figure, and U.S. District Judge George Howard, Jr.