China Caucus Newsletter
November 2007

Roundtable Discussion on Religious Freedom in China Held on Capitol Hill

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the Congressional China Caucus co-hosted a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill on Oct. 19 focusing on current problems facing refugees and asylum seekers in China – particularly North Koreans, Uighur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists. Religion is a salient factor affecting the decision to seek asylum for all these groups. The Commission and the Caucus held the forum to encourage candid discussion between U.S. government officials and other policymakers, international organizations, Congressional staff and non-governmental representatives on how to engage the Chinese government to encourage treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in accordance with international standards.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, co-Chair of the China Caucus, offered an opening statement at the roundtable. “The plight of religious refugees throughout Asia today—and, indeed, throughout the world—should be an important part of U.S.-Sino relations and U.S. foreign policy,” Bordallo said.

 “The refugee issue is an important piece of the puzzle with respect to how China wants to elevate itself to world leader status,” Congressman Randy Forbes, Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus,  said. “China doesn’t look at international relations or human rights issues the same way the United States does. This is an important thing to keep in mind as we negotiate with China—we need to understand their philosophy is different than ours.”

Forum participants assessed the challenges facing refugees and evaluated U.S. policy regarding the protection of these refugee populations. For more information on the United States Commission on International Freedom, visit http://www.uscirf.gov/home.html.

Featured Editorial: Domino Effect

Founder and Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, Congressman Randy Forbes, recaps his experience and thoughts on the  Congressional Delegation trip to China that took place at the end of August in the following editorial, Domino Effect.

By Congressman Randy Forbes, Sep 17 - If you have ever built a domino wall, you know the disastrous consequences that a teetering domino can have on the whole project. One wrong move - one ill-advised touch - can cause the surrounding dominos to collapse one-by-one, each causing its neighbor to fall. Once the dominos start to fall, it is nearly impossible to control or prevent the others from falling. We often call this “the domino effect.” The idea behind the domino effect has been applied to all kinds of situations and theories from psychology to sociology to education, but perhaps most concerning is when the domino effect is discussed in terms of foreign relations.

I just recently returned from a visit to China with a delegation of Members of Congress. This was my second trip to China since 2004, and as I returned to China I expected to be fairly familiar with the status of the political, economic, and military environments I would find there. As founder of the Congressional China Caucus, I have made it a priority to study China’s rapid economic growth, its sophisticated military buildup and its day-to-day and future impact on the United States. When I returned from my last trip to China nearly three years ago, I wrote about the quiet storm that China had become, brewing essentially unnoticed across the world’s horizon. I wrote about China’s military buildup and the possible temptation that might lead Beijing to use its military strength as a mechanism to exert pressure on its neighbors. I never expected that I would see these results so  soon as I returned to China just a few weeks ago.  Click here to continue reading.

China News from the Hill

Members request interagency review of U.S. policy goals towards Pacific Island countries

Members of Congress, including Co-Chairs of the Congressional China Caucus Rep. Forbes and Rep. Bordallo, sent a letter addressed to the President's National Security Advisor, requesting that he undertake an interagency review of United States policy goals with respect to the Pacific island countries and evaluate the extent to which current United States political, economic, trade, security, and foreign aid assistance adequately supports such policy goals. The letter would signal support for the enhancement of coordinated

political, economic, trade, security, and foreign aid strategies for, and the increased dedication of resources to, island countries of the

Pacific region by the Government of the United States, in order to counter the influences of competitor states - namely the PRC - in the region.

Rep. Forbes requests hearing on Chinese espionage and cyber-crime

Congressman Forbes sent a letter to Rep. Bobby Scott, Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, asking that he schedule an oversight hearing on the issue of espionage and cyber-crime as it relates to China's influence and operations in the United States. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has testified before the Judiciary Committee that China represents the number one espionage threat to the United States. It is estimated that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 Chinese front companies operating in the U.S. to gather secret or proprietary information. To view a copy of the letter, click here.

Upcoming China Events

The Fourth Annual China Institute Executive Summit 2007

November 8th and 9th

Time Warner Headquarters

New York, New York

This invitation only event will bring business executives from the United States and China for open and constructive dialogue on Chinese and American business partnerships. The event will be held at the Time Warner's Headquarters in New York City. The China Institute in America was founded in 1926 by American and Chinese educators, and is the oldest bicultural organization in America that is focused exclusively on China. For more information on the event, click here.

China In The News

China watch
Washington Times

October 16, 2007
John E. Carey - "With China's rapid rise and relentless military build-up, the 'China threat' is no longer confined to confrontation across the Taiwan Strait. In fact, it has already seriously impacted world peace," said Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian on Oct. 10, 2007. He urged the international community to "strongly demand that China immediately withdraw missiles deployed along its southeastern coast targeted at Taiwan, stop military exercises simulating attacks on Taiwan." Click here to read more.

DHS criticized for Chinese steel in U.S.-Mexico fence
The Hill
October 19, 2007
House members allied with the domestic steel industry blasted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday for building a fence on the Mexican border with steel products from China. Click here to read more.

China protests Dalai Lama honor
CNN
October 16, 2007
The White House vigorously defended President Bush's plan to meet with the Dalai Lama Tuesday, brushing aside China's warning that it would damage relations between Washington and Beijing. Click here to read more.

U.S. to keep tighter rein on military exports
CNN
October 11, 2007
The illegal export of U.S. military technology to Iran and China poses a growing threat, the Justice Department said Thursday as it announced plans to combat the practice. Iran is the only country still flying the F-14 Tomcat. The department said the United States will tighten monitoring of export licenses and increase export restrictions on technologies that could have both civilian and military applications and could pose a danger to U.S. national security in the hands of terrorists or potential enemies. Click here to read more.

GOP urges probe in China firm deal
Washington Times
October 4, 2007
Several Republican members of Congress yesterday called for a Treasury Department probe into whether Pentagon computer networks will be compromised by the merger of a U.S. network-equipment maker and a Chinese firm with links to Beijing's military. Click here to read more.
 

NASA chief: China will beat us back to the moon
CNN
October 4, 2007
The Soviets beat the United States at getting a satellite, and a man, into space. Now, the Chinese may get to the moon before the U.S. can make a return visit. Click here to read more.
 

An Opportunity for Wall St. in China’s Surveillance Boom
New York Times
September 11, 2007
Li Runsen, the powerful technology director of China’s ministry of public security, is best known for leading Project Golden Shield, China’s intensive effort to strengthen police control over the Internet. Click here to read more.

What We Owe the Burmese
Washington Post
October 1, 2007
An upheaval like the pro-democracy uprising taking place in Burma over the past month tends to shake up certainties that had seemed self-evident. Certainties such as the primacy of justice. Or the sanctity of the Olympic Games. Click here to read more.

To read more news clips on China, click here.

Contact Us

The China Caucus welcomes your ideas and comments during the 110th Congress.

To contact the China Caucus, please send a letter by mail or fax to:

The primary purpose of the Congressional China Caucus is to educate its members on issues pertaining to China and Chinese interests and serve as a forum for discussion of such issues. The Congressional China Caucus will investigate China’s global reach and the consequences of its growing international, economic, and political influence on U.S. interests.

For more information on the Congressional China Caucus, please visit http://randyforbes.house.gov/biography/chinacaucus.htm Please do not reply to this email.  It has been sent from an unattended mailbox.