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| CHINA TRADE DEBATE | |
 September 19, 2000  | |
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KWAME HOLMAN: Even with little more either side could say to sway their colleagues, and little suspense about the final outcome, Senate opponents of the China trade bill did not back down today from arguing their case. They pushed for assurances of greater protection of human rights in China and warned of growing Chinese military power. Minnesota Democrat Paul Wellstone made his last stand, gripping a copy of today's "Washington Post." SEN. PAUL WELLSTONE, (D) Minnesota: Bishop Zheng, picked up last week, now imprisoned again-- I quote from the "Washington post" editorial-- Bishop Zheng has been guilty of a single crime all along. He's a Catholic believer. Mr. President, every Senator should read this editorial today before they vote. KWAME HOLMAN: A short time later, Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia upbraided his colleagues for their expected vote in favor of the trade bill. SEN. ROBERT BYRD, (D) West Virginia: It's hard for me to believe that after a year which has the Chinese government rattling sabers at Taiwan, continuing to brutally repress religion, and generally behaving like the Bobby Knight of the international community, and after a year like that, the Senate is still determined to hand the Chinese a huge early Christmas present called permanent normal trade relations. KWAME HOLMAN: Democrat Ernest Hollings of South Carolina joined Byrd, expressing his frustration. SEN. ERNEST HOLLINGS, (D) South Carolina: This vote's been fixed. This thing has been fixed since midsummer, Senator. You know it, and I know it. KWAME HOLMAN: True to Hollings' prediction, the Senate easily passed the legislation that would permanently normalize U.S. Trade relations with the world's second largest economy. Senate passage of the bill, known as PNTR, paves the way for greater access of U.S. goods to China's markets. It also aids China's entry into the World Trade Organization, the globe's premier trading body. Democrat Patty Murray's Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation. It's a diverse economy that includes aerospace workers, wheat farmers, and longshoremen. SEN. PATTY MURRAY, (D) Washington: If Congress fails to grant PNTR to China, we will hinder our broader relationship with that country, make it harder to promote change there, and damage America's workers and industries, as they compete with other countries for a place in China's market. KWAME HOLMAN: And Missouri Republican Christopher Bond argued that opening China's markets would help improve its human rights performance. SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD, (R) Missouri: For all the backwardness of China on the issues of religious freedom and human rights, positive changes are under way on the economic front. We should recognize that the changes are a direct threat to the communist establishment in China. As the Chinese people become more aware of the opportunities that exist for improving one's life that is inherent in a free society, they will demand more rights from their government, and will demand the government become more responsive to the will of the people. KWAME HOLMAN: Before the Senate could get to today's final vote, members had to wade through more than a week of formal debate and 18 amendments, all of which were defeated. Perhaps the biggest threat to the bill was an amendment by Republican Fred Thompson of Tennessee that would have imposed sanctions on Chinese companies caught exporting nuclear and other weapons. Republican Jesse Helms and Democrat Paul Wellstone, usually fierce ideological opposites, united on amendments aimed at pressuring China to improve human rights. Helms vowed, even in the face of his amendments' defeat, that he would continue the fight. SEN. JESSE HELMS, (R) North Carolina: So Mr. President, if the advocates of PNTR prove to be wrong, and if nothing changes in China in the wake of the United States Senate's final approval of PNTR this afternoon, I will devote whatever strength and influence I possess to limit any and all conceivable benefits that this legislation may hold for the Chinese communist government. KWAME HOLMAN: Minutes before the final vote, Majority Leader Trent Lott took to the floor and acknowledged the concerns of the trade bill's opponents. SEN. TRENT LOTT: I know that there are legitimate concerns about this legislation. And there are those that are having to struggle with whether or not we can trust China's compliance. There are legitimate concern about human rights violations and religious persecution and nuclear weapons activities. But I also believe that it would be a tremendous mistake to ignore the advantages of this trade legislation. KWAME HOLMAN: The Senate's approval always was considered a foregone conclusion, and today's vote was overwhelming. 83-15. The tougher fight was in the House, which passed the bill in May. It now awaits the signature of President Clinton, who lobbied heavily for normal trade ties with China, and again expressed his strong support for the measure today. |
