I am pleased to join Representative Frank Wolf, an unmatched leader in his commitment to promoting human rights around the world, in introducing this bi-partisan and diverse coalition of groups working to revoke Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status for China this year.
On Monday, President Clinton announced his decision to extend MFN to China, despite growing concerns across this country about the repressive human rights practices of China's authoritarian government, its unfair trade practices and its continued sale of dangerous weapons of mass destruction to dangerous countries.
The President's decision signals business as usual in U.S.- China policy. This decision is out of sync with the reality on the ground in China, and it is out of touch with the American people, who, according to a May 1 Wall Street Journal/NBC/Hart & Teeter poll believe by a margin of 67% to 27% that China should improve its human rights or lose its current trade status.
Some of the groups represented here today have disagreed on a number of issues. They are united, however, on their opposition to renewal of Most Favored Nation trade status for China. They understand that the Administration's policy of so-called "constructive engagement" is neither constructive nor true engagement. They understand that the current policy is also not sustainable in terms of trade, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and human rights.
Those who espouse the current policy of so-called constructive engagement characterize those who disagree with them as advocating containment. I take issue with that characterization. I believe the current U.S.-China policy is a policy of containment. By following a policy which bolsters the Chinese government, the United States is actually supporting the containment of the Chinese people, their hopes and aspirations. China's authoritarian rulers are engaged in active containment of the thoughts, beliefs, and statements of its population because full engagement by the Chinese people with the outside world is a direct threat to their hold on power.
Today's coalition brings to the MFN debate strong grassroots constituencies mobilized to fight MFN and to bring principle to U.S.-China policy. It is time to stop holding our policy hostage to the profits of a few exporting elites at the expense of most products made in America. It is past time to implement a policy of sustainable engagement, an engagement which sustains our economy, our values and the safety of our world.
