DATE=7/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264321
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=



INTRO:  Democrats in the U-S Senate are stepping up 
pressure for a vote on granting permanent normal trade 
relations to China.  But the Republican lawmakers who 
set the agenda insist on dealing with Chinese weapons 
proliferation first.  V-O-A's David Swan reports on 
the stalemate.


TEXT:  The problem is not the substance of the so-
called P-N-T-R bill, which both parties favor.  The 
measure is caught up in political and procedural 
disputes, which, its supporters say, could eventually 
sink the landmark proposal.

After Republicans blocked an attempt to bring up the 
bill (Tuesday) Democratic Leader Tom Daschle warned it 
might fail if the vote is delayed.

// Daschle act //

      I have a very deep concern about this 
      legislation slipping.  This needs to be done 
      this month.  It ought to be done this week.  And 
      we're going to continue to press for its 
      consideration.


// end act //

Republican Leader Trent Lott raised Democrats' hopes 
last month by saying he planned to take up P-N-T-R in 
July.  While he says that is still his goal, Mr. Lott 
is calling for a vote on another bill first -- one 
that would punish China for peddling weapons of mass 
destruction.

// Lott act //

      And so I continue to emphasize to all concerned, 
      here in the Senate and to the president this 
      morning, that this issue needs to be addressed 
      before we go to the China trade bill.


// end act //

The measure would slap sanctions on the Chinese 
government as well as any company or person helping 
another country acquire missiles, nuclear, chemical or 
biological weapons.  Concerns about this proliferation 
were recently heightened by reports China is still 
aiding Pakistan's missile program.  Republican Senator 
Fred Thompson, the sponsor of the sanctions bill, 
points to a high-level meeting in Beijing that failed 
to resolve the issue.

// Thompson act //

      The Chinese basically told us to get lost when 
      we expressed our concerns as to what we now know 
      they're doing in Pakistan.  As we know, they 
      have outfitted Pakistan with their entire 
      nuclear capability in that tinderbox area of the 
      world.


// end act //

Democrats complain the Thompson proposal would only 
poison relations and perhaps touch off a backlash from 
China.  The lawmakers say nothing should stand in the 
way of the trade bill, which would clear the way for 
China to join the World Trade Organization and open a 
huge Chinese market to American companies.  Senator 
Max Baucus argues these steps are far too critical for 
P-N-T-R to wait any longer.

// Baucus act //

      We all know that the relations with China are 
      extremely important but also tenuous.  And the 
      more this issue is delayed, the more likely it 
      is that some untoward, unanticipated, unexpected 
      event might occur.


// end act //

For now, Republicans are holding up P-N-T-R and 
Democrats are blocking the sanctions bill.  Both 
measures could still be voted on this month but only 
if the two sides can agree on a formula for breaking 
the logjam. (Signed)


Neb/ds/AMAHL/PT 



11-Jul-2000 16:25 PM EDT (11-Jul-2000 2025 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.