25 June 1997
The Washington Post
By John E. Yang House Backs Clinton on China Trade Privileges
The House upheld President Clinton's decision to renew China's trade privileges yesterday, turning back efforts by Christian conservatives and liberal Democrats to punish Beijing for its human rights record, trade practices and weapons sales.
After more than three hours of debate, the effort to overturn the president's action was defeated 259 to 173 on a roll call vote. Although it was the largest number of House members opposing China's most-favored-nation trading status since 1990 -- the year after Beijing's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square -- it still fell well short of passing.
The issue took on added significance this year because of concerns about whether Beijing will keep its pledge to preserve economic and political freedoms in Hong Kong after it takes control of the colony next week, and because of reports that Chinese officials may have been trying to buy political influence in Washington through illegal campaign contributions. In addition, Christian conservatives, led by Gary Bauer and his Family Research Council, worked against renewing China's trade status for the first time, complaining about what they called Beijing's persecution of Christian, Muslim and other religious leaders.
That created a split between two of the Republican Party's most important blocs of support as U.S. business interests, which see China as a burgeoning market, fought for MFN renewal. As they have in past years, major corporations such as Boeing mounted a substantial lobbying campaign in many congressional districts intended to remind voters of the supposed economic benefits of trading with China.
In the end, 79 Republicans, including Rep. Frank R. Wolf (Va.) and Maryland Reps. Roscoe G. Bartlett and Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., 93 Democrats, including all those from Maryland, and one independent voted to overturn the president's decision.
Among the 147 Republicans who voted to back Clinton were House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), who by tradition rarely votes, Majority Leader Richard K. Armey (Tex.), Majority Whip Tom DeLay (Tex.) and House Republican Conference Chairman John A. Boehner (Ohio). Rep. James P. Moran (Va.) was among the 112 Democrats who supported the president's position.
Yesterday's vote was not the end of this year's congressional debate on U.S. relations with Beijing. Lawmakers have introduced several measures intended to toughen American policy toward China and promote democracy.
Among the steps under consideration are increases in Radio Free Asia broadcasts, more funding for the National Endowment for Democracy and possible restrictions on products made by companies controlled by the Chinese army.
China's MFN status comes up for renewal each year under a law barring trade privileges to countries without free-market systems that restrict emigration. MFN allows Chinese imports to enter the United States at the lowest possible tariffs.
Only a handful of nations do not have MFN status. Only three countries -- Canada, Israel and Mexico -- have better trading privileges.
The unusual nature of the coalition opposing China's privileges, uniting Christian conservative Republicans and pro-labor Democrats, created some uncommon moments during yesterday's debate.
In the closing moments, for instance, House Rules Committee Chairman Gerald B.H. Solomon (R-N.Y.), a sharp partisan who introduced the challenge to Clinton's decision, stood and applauded a spirited speech by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.).
"This debate is about principles -- human rights, human dignity . . . and whether we put trade before people and profits above principles," said Rep. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.). "We can't allow the brutal denial of human rights to remain unnoticed or unanswered."
"Looking the other way doesn't make the problem go away, it makes the problem worse . . . it undermines our leadership, our moral authority," House Minority Whip David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) said.
Supporters of MFN renewal countered that the best way to try to make changes in China is to remain involved with Beijing. "The free exchange of commerce and ideas represents the best hope we have of projecting the light of freedom into communist China," said Rep. Philip M. Crane (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on trade.
"By continuing this dialogue and creating the jobs on this side of the ocean, I truly believe that's a better solution to the problem," said Rep. Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.), the Ways and Means Committee's top Democrat.
"Washing our hands of China is simply irresponsible," said DeLay.
Clinton praised the vote, saying it "makes clear that the right way to encourage further progress in China is not to cut China off, but to draw China in." He pledged that "when we disagree with China, such as on human rights and religious freedom, we will continue to speak out candidly and clearly."
As the MFN debate began this year, Gingrich called for renewing China's MFN status for less than a full year to see how Beijing treats Hong Kong. He backed away from that after Hong Kong leaders, including British Gov. Chris Patten and Martin Lee, the colony's leading pro-democracy politician, said such a step would threaten Hong Kong's economic livelihood.
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