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May 2000 China
Special Weapons News

• U.S.-China: PNTR Vote Applauded, But Will Trade Transform China? Foreign Media Reaction May 30, 2000 -- Many editorial writers hailed what they perceived to be an "end" to U.S. "isolationism" and Washington's "traditional policy of restraining China." An almost equal number, however, while welcoming the vote, voiced worries that rapid changes in China's economy would lead to significant increases in unemployment and a greater degree of social unrest.
• Ten Major Benefits of Peaceful Reunification People's Daily 30 May 2000 -- Our Daily Tuesday publishes a signed article deliberating on 10 major benefits of a peaceful reunification of China. Chen Kongli, the author of the article, wrote the 10 major benefits as follows.
• JIANG-CLINTON Voice of America 29 May 2000 -- China's official news agency says Chinese President Jiang Zemin called President Clinton Sunday night to thank him for shepherding crucial trade legislation through the U-S House of Representatives last week.
• Taiwan Leader Urged to Stop Blurring, Evading One-China Principle People's Daily 27 May 2000 -- The Xinhua News Agency published a signed commentary Friday urging the Taiwan leader to show his sincerity and goodwill on cross-Straits ties by ceasing to blur and evade the One-China Principle.
• Taiwan Should Take Steps to Improve Cross-Straits Relations People's Daily 27 May 2000 -- The much-anticipated May 20 speech by the new leader was a disappointment. The speech side-stepped the one-China principle. The issue of Taiwan should not be dragged on forever.
• Risk of Arms Race Seen in U.S. Design of Missile Defense By MICHAEL R. GORDON and STEVEN LEE MYERSThe New York Times May 27, 2000 -- Some senior intelligence experts nonetheless believe that a missile defense will prompt the Chinese to build up their strategic force beyond what they had previously planned, in order to ensure that it remains viable. The American intelligence community's assessment will be contained in a new official intelligence report on the responses of foreign governments to a United States missile defense.
• PLA MILITARY EXERCISES ROUTINE SAYS MND May 26 (CNA) The artillery exercises presently being carried out by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Fujian Province are part of routine annual drills and do not signal a threat from the mainland.
• US SENATORS INTRODUCE CHINA NON-PROLIFERATION BILL May 25 (CNA) Two US senators Thursday introduced legislation in the Senate, seeking to address Communist China's continued proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them.
• Commentary on Taiwan Leader's May 20 Speech People's Daily Friday, May 26, 2000 -- As the Taiwan leader has not given up his "Taiwan independence" stance, he has no sincerity and goodwill to create a "new age of reconciliation," the commentary said.
• Text: Senators Thompson and Torricelli Introduce China Bill 26 May 2000 -- One day after the historic vote in the House of Representatives to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status, two senators announced that they would seek to have either parallel legislation or an amendment to the China trade bill aimed at curbing that nation's role in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• Text: Summary of Senator Thompson's Draft China Legislation 26 May 2000 -- China would pay a penalty for its proliferation activities, according to a summary of the proposed "China Nonproliferation Act," released by the office of Senator Fred Thompson (Republican of Tennessee).
• CHINA-WTO Voice of America 26 May 2000 -- China's top trade negotiator is trying to convince the country's ailing state-owned enterprises of the benefits of China joining the World Trade Organization.
• CHINA TRADE NORMALIZATION VOTE Voice of America 26 May 2000 -- Most newspapers have come out in favor of the legislation, but a minority worried that normalizing trade gives away the last lever this country has to press China on human rights issues.
• SENATE-CHINA TRADE Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- For American labor unions, the House vote (Wednesday) in favor of permanent normal trade is a bitter defeat.
• U-S - CHINA / HUMAN RIGHTS Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- The legislation, approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives, giving normal trade status to China includes a provision that would create a special commission to monitor China's human-rights problems.
• U-S HOUSE APPROVES NORMALIZING CHINA TRADE Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- The victory, by a surprisingly easy vote of 237 in favor, to 197 against, was a major foreign policy victory for President Clinton.
• CHINA TRADE / POLITICS Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- President Clinton is trying to heal divisions in his Democratic Party caused by the recent battle in Congress over normalizing U-S trade with China.
• CHINA TRADE / HIGH TECH REACT Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- U-S high technology firms, particular telecommunications and computer software and hardware companies, are among the strongest supporters of improved trade ties with China.
• CHINA - TRADE REACT Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- Beijing is also criticizing provisions in the bill that would set up a commission to monitor its human rights record.
• CHINA-PROTEST END Voice of America 25 May 2000 -- Two nights of protest by students at Beijing University have ended, after campus officials agreed to hold a memorial service for a murdered student.
• CHINA-STUDENT PROTEST Voice of America 24 May 2000 -- Up to two-thousand Beijing University students staged a second night of protests after the murder of a fellow student.
• CLINTON-CHINA TRADE Voice of America 24 May 2000 -- President Clinton - with considerable help from the Republican majority in Congress - has secured a major legislative victory with House approval of permanent, normal, U-S trade status for China.
• Text: Clinton Statement on House PNTR Vote 24 May 2000 -- Today, the House of Representatives has taken an historic step toward continued prosperity in America, reform in China, and peace in the world.
• Specter of US NMD Hovers Over Europe People's Daily Wednesday, May 24, 2000 -- Most of the European countries adopt a sceptical attitude toward US planned deployment of the missile defense system. Having no fear of being attacked from behind, the United States will definitely become more offensive in the international arena.
• House Begins Debate on China PNTR By Steve LaRocque Washington File 23 May 2000 -- The House of Representatives began debate on granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status May 23. The debate will continue on May 24.
• House Rules Committee Takes Up Terms of PNTR Debate By Steve LaRocque Washington File 23 May 2000 -- The House Rules Committee took up the issue of the terms of the upcoming floor debate in the House of Representatives on legislation granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status May 23.
• Text: Commerce Secretary on China PNTR to World Economic Forum 23 May 2000 -- Failing to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status and membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) would have major consequences for the United States, U.S. Secretary of Commerce William Daley said in May 23 remarks in Washington, D.C. to the World Economic Forum.
• CONGRESS - CHINA DEBATE Voice of America 23 May 2000 -- The U-S House of Representatives will vote Wednesday on a controversial bill to establish permanent normal trade relations with China.
• CHINA / DISSIDENT / PNTR Voice of America 23 May 2000 -- A prominent Chinese dissident is urging the U- S Congress to approve permanent normal trade status for China.
• HONG KONG / TAIWAN / CHINA Voice of America 23 May 2000 -- As China and Taiwan struggle with the difficult issue of possible reunification, questions arise about whether the "one country - two systems" model will work for Taiwan as it has for Hong Kong.
• One-China Principle Is Not Saddled on Taiwan People's Daily 23 May 2000 -- Insistence on the One-China Principle on both sides of the Straits has ensured cross-Straits peace and exchanges, the commentary said, noting that Taiwan people, though having doubts about immediate reunification due to a number of factors, widely agree with the principle.
• CHINA-TAIWAN FLEXIBILITY Voice of America 23 May 2000 -- China may be backing away from its hard-line conditions for restarting talks with Taiwan - just days after island inaugurated a new president.
• One-China Principle Allows for No Evasion or Ambiguity People's Daily 22 May 2000 -- On the key issue of accepting the one-China principle, the new leader adopted an evasive and vague attitude, saying that one-China is an issue that will be dealt with "in the future."
• Taiwan New Leader Lacks Sincerity: Full Text People's Daily 22 May 2000 -- On the key issue of accepting the One-China principle,the new leader adopted an evasive and ambiguous attitude, the statement says. "Obviously, his 'goodwill reconciliation' lacks sincerity," the statement says. The two sides should negotiate and discuss reunification on this basis in an equal manner, it says. It also stresses that the Taiwan issue can not be dragged on endlessly.
• CONGRESS/CHINA TRADE Voice of America 22 May 2000 -- The vote remains too close to call -- and the outcome could depend on the last-minute decisions of a dwindling pool of undecided House members.
• CLINTON - CHINA TRADE Voice of America 22 May 2000 -- In what is has become the biggest legislative battle this year, Mr. Clinton is not leaving anything to chance.
• CHINA-TESTING TAIWAN Voice of America 22 May 2000 -- China is testing the new Taiwanese president by keeping up its media blitz against any prospect of Taiwanese independence, while offering to resume talks under certain conditions.
• CHINA TRADE VOTE Voice of America 22 May 2000 -- Most organized labor in this country opposes the move, fearing the loss of jobs, while some prominent Chinese dissidents also oppose it, fearing the Chinese will be more repressive if they win.
• Transcript: Albright ABC-TV "This Week" Interview on China PNTR 22 May 2000 -- If Congress approves the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China, the economic benefits to the United States will be huge, says Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
• China Reiterates Principle for Cross-Straits Dialogue People's Daily 20 May 2000 -- The statement reiterated that high-level visits between the two sides will be realized on the basis of the "one China" principle, and that on this principle, all issues can be discussed.
• Taiwan New Leader Lacks Sincerity : Statement People's Daily 20 May 2000 -- The "goodwill reconciliation" mentioned by the new leader of the Taiwan authorities in his speech delivered Saturday is short of sincerity, says an official statement released lately.
• CHINA-TAIWAN Voice of America 20 May 2000 -- China's official reaction to the Taiwanese President's speech accuses President Chen Shui-bian of being evasive and ambiguous toward what it calls the key issue of accepting that Taiwan is a part of China.
• CLINTON-CHINA-TRADE Voice of America 20 May 2000 -- President Clinton has canceled plans to deliver a nationally televised address Sunday to press his case for congressional passage ofpermanent normal trade relations for China.
• CONGRESS / CHINA TRADE Voice of America 19 May 2000 -- Congressional supporters of permanent normal trade relations with China say they are increasingly confident of victory in the U-S House of Representatives.
• CHINA / EU / WTO Voice of America 19 May 2000 -- China and the European Union have reached a trade agreement that removes the last major barrier to China's entry to the World Trade Organization.
• CONGRESS/CHINA TRADE Voice of America 19 May 2000 -- Next Wednesday (May 24th) the U-S House of Representatives will vote on a bill to extend normal trade relations permanently, instead of dealing with the issue on an annual basis.
• Refute Taiwan's "Three Principles for Dialog" People's Daily Friday, May 19, 2000 -- "Considering requests made by the Taiwan authorities that negotiations be conducted as equals, we have never used the term ' central to local government' as a term describing talks and negotiations between the two sides. We should say, conducting negotiations as equals is no problem."
• Bereuter-Levin Draft China PNTR Bill Released By Steve La Rocque Washington File 19 May 2000 -- Representatives Douglas Bereuter (Republican of Nebraska) and Sander Levin (Democrat of Michigan) released May 19 the draft of legislation that would work in parallel with legislation granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.
• Text: PNTR Opponent Decries Child Labor, Slave Labor in China 19 May 2000 -- The United States shouldn't forge closer trade ties with a country that violates the rights of children and women, says Representative Sherrod Brown (Democrat of Ohio). According to the opponent of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China, that's what the Beijing regime does.
• Transcript: Clinton, Greenspan Urge "Yes" Vote for China PNTR 18 May 2000 -- President Clinton appealed to lawmakers May 18 to vote "yes" on the question of granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China.
• CLINTON / CHINA TRADE Voice of America 18 May 2000 -- Greenspan said the trade package would reduce centralized control over the Chinese economy. In the process, he said, it would be "a far stronger vehicle" for fostering individual rights in China than any other alternative.
• L-A CHINA PROTEST Voice of America 18 May 2000 -- As the U-S Congress prepares to vote next week on a bill that would normalize trade relations with China, opponents of the measure-- including trade unions -- are rallying around the country in protest.
• CHINA TRADE - DISSIDENTS Voice of America 18 May 2000 -- Dozens of Chinese dissidents have rallied in Washington to protest U-S efforts to extend permanent trade privileges to China.
• CHINA TAIWAN Voice of America 18 May 2000 -- The People's Daily, China Daily, and the Liberation Daily all ran editorials warning of what they call - catastrophe - if Taiwan refuses to accept reunification with the mainland.
• Annette Lu's Remarks on Taiwan Status Extremely Dangerous People's Daily Thursday, May 18, 2000 -- Lu has an ulterior motive for emphasizing Taiwan's status on the eve of the new Taiwan leader's declaration of his policies. Annette Lu's statement that "Taiwan is an independent sovereign state," prior to the new Taiwan leader assuming power on May 20, is extremely dangerous.
• China Trade Status Strategically Important to U.S., Asia By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service May 17, 2000 -- A congressional rejection of permanent normal trading relations with China would have serious strategic repercussions on the United States and Asia, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said.
• Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen DoD News Briefing May 17, 2000 -- China is going to make its own decisions in terms of how many missiles it will deploy. That will be a decision they will make, and I think irrespective they will make a decision within their own best interests. Whether they go with more or less will be a decision that they will make.
• Taiwan's New Leader Urged to Recognize One-China Principle People's Daily Wednesday, May 17, 2000 -- Xinhua News Agency published a commentary Tuesday making it clear that the new leader of Taiwan must recognize the One-China principle if tensions are to be eased across the Taiwan Straits.
• Excerpt: Representative David Dreier Says China PNTR Best for U.S. 17 May 2000 -- An advocate for permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status for China spoke in the House of Representatives May 17 to convince fellow lawmakers that opening China to trade would be the best way to bring about positive change in that country.
• Excerpts: Senator Arlen Specter Says Vote "No" on China PNTR 17 May 2000 -- "I am opposed, strongly opposed to granting permanent normal trade relations to the People's Republic of China because of their record on nuclear proliferation, of weapons of mass destruction, because of their record on human rights," Specter said.
• Text: Amendment to H.R. 4444 on China PNTR Import Surge Protection 17 May 2000 -- Representative Bill Archer (Republican of Texas), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced an Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4444 May 17 in the markup for the legislation that would grant China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
• Text: Senate Finance Committee Passes Markup of China PNTR Bill 17 May 2000 -- The Senate Finance Committee approved the markup May 17 of S. 2277, legislation that would grant China permanent Normal Trade Relations status.
• Text: President Clinton Hails Committees' Vote For China PNTR 17 May 2000 -- President Clinton praised the successful markups of the legislation that will grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
• Text: Commerce Secretary Daley Remarks on China Trade Status Vote 17 May 2000 -- Daley said supporters of the bill do not yet have the 218 votes necessary to succeed, but neither did opponents of the bill have enough votes to defeat it.
• House Ways and Means Committee Amends, Passes China PNTR Bill 17 May 2000 -- By Steve La Rocque Washington File -- The House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation May 17 that would grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.
• CLINTON - CHINA TRADE Voice of America 17 May 2000 -- One week before the U-S House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether to extend permanent normal trade relations to China, President Clinton is warning of dire consequences if lawmakers reject the measure.
• CONGRESS/CHINA Voice of America 16 May 2000 -- Legislation granting permanent normal trade relations to China faces its first procedural hurdle today (Wednesday) in the U-S Congress.
• CLINTON-CHINA Voice of America 16 May 2000 -- President Clinton is increasingly optimistic that his drive to win permanent normal U-S trade status for China will succeed in Congress.
• CHINA-WORKER PROTESTS Voice of America 16 May 2000 -- Thousands of steel workers have clashed with police in China's northeastern province of Liaoning.
• Transcript: Democrats in House Argue Against China PNTR 16 May 2000 -- Democrats against granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status expressed their reasons for opposing a measure the Clinton Administration has called the most important vote the Congress will take this year in a colloquy in the House of Representatives.
• Text: Deputy USTR Esserman May 16 Remarks in Ohio on China PNTR 16 May 2000 -- The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on the question of granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status for China, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Susan Esserman said.
• Text: Barshefsky May 16 on China PNTR to Bretton Woods Committee 16 May 2000 -- One day before markups in the Senate and House of Representatives of legislation that would give China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status, U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky continued seeking support for a "yes" vote on that issue.
• Text: USTR Barshefsky May 16 Speech on China Trade Status, WTO 16 May 2000 -- A vote by Congress to deny China permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status would be "reckless" because the United States has "a fundamental national security interest in a peaceful, stable, mutually beneficial relationship with China."
• Excerpts: Lawmakers Debate Benefits to Agriculture of China PNTR 16 May 2000 -- American agriculture has a lot to gain from expanded trade with China, a group of lawmakers said in a May 16 debate in the House of Representatives on whether granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status would help or hurt that sector of the U.S. economy.
• Analysts Downplay Threat Beijing Poses To Taiwan By Richard Halloran, Washington Times May 15, 2000 Pg. 1 -- The Federation of American Scientists has done an intriguing comparison of the Allied forces required for the invasion of Normandy from Britain in 1944, the largest amphibious operation in history, and what would be available for China's People's Liberation Army to invade Taiwan in 2000. The conclusion: The PLA almost certainly would be badly mauled.
• Evading "One China" Principle Impermissible People's Daily Monday, May 15, 2000 -- "We maintain that the two sides of the straits have dialogs, talks, and negotiations as equals, but the sole precondition is that the Taiwan side must recognize the one-China principle."
• U-S - CHINA TRADE Voice of America 15 May 2000 -- George Becker, the president of the United Steel Workers Union, accused China of being a rogue nation, raping the environment, and ignoring the rule of law.
• CHINA-EU-WTO Voice of America 15 May 2000 -- China and the European Union have resumed talks in Beijing on China's accession to the World Trade Organization.
• PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A MORE OPEN CHINA Gene B. Sperling, Director National Economic Council Remarks before the Dallas Ambassadors Forum Dallas, Texas May 15, 2000 -- It is hard to see how empowering communist hard-liners, slowing economic transition, and keeping American companies out of China will increase respect for human rights or lead to a more open society.
• Transcript: Rep. Knollenberg Says Yes, Rep. Kaptur Says No to PNTR 15 May 2000 -- As the time for the vote on whether to grant China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status draws near, Republicans and Democrats debate the issue in the House of Representatives, and members of President Clinton's party continue to come out against granting China permanent NTR status.
• Text: USTR Barshefsky Speech on China WTO Accession 13 May 2000 -- China's decision to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), a law-based system, will be a defining moment -- both for the trading system itself, and in the history of modern China.
• REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE OPENING OF THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON CHINA PNTR WITH THE AKRON COMMUNITY May 13, 2000 -- What this does is, they take down a lot of their barriers to trade and investment with America, in return for membership in the World Trade Organization -- which puts them in the global trading system and requires them to follow certain rules, and gives us some way to appeal if they don't follow those rules.
• CHINA-FALUN GONG Voice of America 13 May 2000 -- Chinese police have arrested at least 50 followers of the banned Falun Gong sect in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
• CLINTON - CHINA TRADE Voice of America 12 May 2000 -- President Clinton touted the benefits of expanded trade with China to American farmers and manufacturers during a trip to the midwestern United States Friday.
• CHINA-U-S-TRADE Voice of America 12 May 2000 -- A senior U-S diplomat in China says Sino-US relations will suffer a severe downturn if the U-S House of Representatives fails to grant Beijing permanent normal trading status in a vote scheduled later this month.
• US Missile Shield May Force China Arms Buildup People's Daily Friday, May 12, 2000 -- Sha also said China and Russia were considering the joint development of techniques "to restore strategic stability," including methods "to defeat your system.... otherwise, the United States will feel it can attack anyone at any time, and that isn't tolerable."
• Transcript: President on Benefits of China PNTR to America's Farmers 12 May 2000 -- China's accession to the World Trade Organization means it won't subsidize its farm sector as it used to, and that will provide opportunity for America's farmers, according to President Clinton.
• Fact Sheet: Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China a Good Deal 12 May 2000 -- China's entry into the WTO will dramatically cut import barriers currently imposed on American products and services.
• Fact Sheet: Labor Aspects of Normal Trade Relations for China 12 May 2000 -- If Congress enacts PNTR, there will be more exports to China of products made in the United States by American workers and farmers.
• Text: House Democrat Gene Green Speaks Out Against China PNTR 11 May 2000 -- Representative Gene Green (Democrat of Texas) has joined a growing list of Democratic lawmakers who are coming out against granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China.
• Text: Rep. Levin May 10 Remarks on China Commission to House Panel 11 May 2000 -- The United States "cannot rely on economic contact and exchange alone to lead automatically to more democracy, greater freedom, and greater respect for human rights and enforcement of core worker rights," according to a supporter of permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status for China.
• Text: Speaker of the House Hastert Release on China Trade 11 May 2000 -- House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert released a statement calling permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China "the most basic thing Congress can do to help" American high-technology industries.
• Excerpt: President Clinton Interview on China PNTR 11 May 2000 -- President Clinton acknowledged in a radio interview that the administration doesn't have the votes yet to win passage of permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status for China.
• Text: Summers House Banking Committee Testimony on China PNTR 11 May 2000 -- Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China is a "one-way street," with the United States reaping all the benefits, according to Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers.
• Transcript: Secretary Cohen Remarks to Asia Society on China PNTR 11 May 2000 -- If the U.S. Congress rejects Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China, the results will have "serious strategic implications for the United States," says Secretary of Defense William Cohen.
• E-U / CHINA TRADE Voice of America 11 May 2000 -- The European Union's Trade Commissioner leaves Sunday for Beijing, where he hopes to reach an agreement on China's accession to the World Trade Organization, or W-T-O.
• CONGRESS/ CHINA TRADE Voice of America 11 May 2000 -- Pressure is building on members of the U-S House of Representatives as a crucial vote on trade with China approaches.
• CHINA-FALUN GONG Voice of America 11 May 2000 -- Chinese police have arrested dozens of followers of the Falun Gong spiritual movement in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
• U-S / CHINA / PNTR - HUMAN RIGHTS Voice of America 10 May 2000 -- Advocates of human rights, workers' rights, and environmental protection said China does not deserve favorable trade treatment from Washington.
• CONGRESS/CHINA TRADE Voice of America 10 May 2000 -- There are signs a bill to grant permanent normal trade relations to China could be in trouble in the U-S House of Representatives. Top Republicans admit, with final House action just weeks away, they do not yet have the votes to pass the bill.
• CHINA-WTO Voice of America 10 May 2000 -- Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji says the process of his country's entry into the World Trade Organization (W-T-O) is picking up speed and will give Beijing an opportunity to further open up its economy.
• CHINA LABOR Voice of America 10 May 2000 -- National Labor Committee, has denounced what it calls brutal sweatshop conditions in Chinese factories that make goods for U-S companies.
• CHINA / INTERNET Voice of America 10 May 2000 -- The Internet and the World Wide Web are posing new challenges for China. Government leaders are showing concern that these technologies could be used to challenge the government and Communist Party.
• Text: Representative David Dreier Touts China PNTR 10 May 2000 -- Granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China is a winner for the United States, according to Representative David Dreier (Republican of California).
• Text: House International Relations Chairman on China PNTR 10 May 2000 -- Granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status may not be such a good idea if it removes from Congress the opportunity to annually hold up to review China's human rights abuses, according to House International Relations Committee Chairman Benjamin Gilman (Republican of New York).
• Text: Ways and Means Chairman Archer Releases Poll on China PNTR 10 May 2000 -- Representative Bill Archer (Republican of Texas), a long-time supporter of granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status, released the results of a poll that shows 67 percent of Americans and an even larger 72 percent of Democrats support permanent NTR status for China.
• Excerpts: Lawmakers Split on China Permanent Normal Trade Relations 10 May 2000 -- Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives continue to line up on opposite sides of the issue of granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
• Text: Rep. Cox Testimony on China PNTR to House Committee 10 May 2000 -- Congress should repeal the parts of the Jackson-Vanik amendment that deal specifically with trade, Representative Christopher Cox (Republican of California) said May 10 in testimony before the House Committee on International Relations.
• Text: Rep. Levin Releases Draft Legislation on China Commission 09 May 2000 -- Representative Sander Levin (Democrat of Michigan) released the narrative of draft legislation that would be "part of the framework for bringing China into the World Trade Organization (WTO)."
• A Strategy for the Future: U.S.-China Relations and China's WTO Accession Stanley O. Roth, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs U.S. Department of State, Speech Before the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DC, May 9, 2000 -- Our strategy is to integrate China into regional and global institutions, helping it become a country that plays by the accepted international rules, cooperating and competing peacefully within those rules.
• Text: Rep. Hunter Says China Trade Bill Would Harm U.S. Security 09 May 2000 -- Congress should not grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China, says Representative Duncan Hunter (Republican of California). "Regardless of the administration's trade objectives, the reality is that China prepares for war," Hunter charged.
• Text: Barshefsky Testimony May 9 on WTO, Permanent NTR for China 09 May 2000 -- Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China would benefit U.S. trade interests and bolster the position of China's reformers, according to U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky.
• Text: Rep. Hostettler Warns of National Security Threat from China 09 May 2000 -- Four members of the House Armed Services Committee, citing national security reasons, came out against granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status in a news conference at the Capitol. They were joined by four other lawmakers concerned about China's threat to U.S. interests.
• Transcript: Secretaries of State, Presidents on China Trade 09 May 2000 -- President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were joined at the White House May 9 by former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, and former U.S. secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and James Baker.
• Text: White House List of Democratic Officials Supporting China PNTR 09 May 2000 -- The White House announced the support of more than 140 elected officials from the Democratic Party for granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status in a White House event featuring President Bill Clinton and other Democratic officeholders from across the nation.
• Transcript: Podesta, Glickman Interview on China WTO Accession/PNTR 09 May 2000 -- In the past, U.S. farmers' access to the Chinese market has been restricted by high tariffs, government subsidies, lack of transparency, and the lack of the rule of law, according to White House Chief of Staff John Podesta.
• Transcript: Lawmakers Clash on China Trade Relations 09 May 2000 -- House Majority Leader Dick Armey (Republican of Texas) is a firm supporter of granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations to China. Representative Sherrod Brown (Democrat of Ohio) is just as firmly opposed to legislation that would remove the annual review of China's trade status by the U.S. Congress.
• Text: Secretary of State Albright Speech on China, Foreign Affairs 09 May 2000 -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright told an audience in Denver, Colorado that Congress should pass permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China and approve funding for foreign affairs programs.
• Text: Pelosi Challenges Clinton Administration Claims on China Trade 09 May 2000 -- Bringing out former U.S. Presidents to speak in favor of granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China doesn't make that policy either a good one or a sustainable one, according to Representative Nancy Pelosi (Democrat of California).
• Text: Bereuter, Levin Offer "Legislative Framework" for China PNTR 09 May 2000 -- Two centrist lawmakers -- one Democrat, the other Republican -- put forth a framework May 9 for parallel legislation to accompany the legislation that would grant China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
• Text: Treasury Secretary Summers on PNTR to Senate Banking Committee 09 May 2000 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers described "three crucial advantages" to be enjoyed by the United States if Congress votes to grant China permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status and welcome China's membership into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Text: Assistant Secretary of State Roth Speech on China 09 May 2000 -- China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status fulfill the objectives, strategies, and tactics of the Clinton Administration's China policy.
• Text: Three Former U.S. Presidents Advocate PNTR for China 08 May 2000 -- In a letter to the American people, three former Presidents of the United States advocated Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status for China.
• Text: Greenspan on Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China 05 May 2000 -- Freer trade is not only the key to greater economic growth in the United States and China, but also to greater freedom for the Chinese people and enhanced stability in international relations, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
• Text: Senator Baucus Backs Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China 05 May 2000 -- The U.S. Congress should grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China, says Senator Max Baucus (Democrat from Montana).
• CHINA-TORTURE Voice of America 04 May 2000 -- Human Rights in China, a non-governmental organization, has issued a report detailing what it calls the widespread practice of torture andill-treatment in China.
• CHINA - JIANG Voice of America 04 May 2000 -- A Hong Kong newspaper reports Chinese President Jiang Zemin will step down from his job as Communist Party boss in the year 2002 and has urged the politburo to back Vice-President Hu Jintao as his successor.
• Text: Rep. Chris Smith Says No PNTR for China 04 May 2000 -- The United States should not grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China, according to Representative Chris Smith (Republican from New Jersey), chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
• Text: Rep. Pelosi on Administration PNTR Monitoring Plan 04 May 2000 -- The Chinese have not and will not keep their word regarding trade, a long-time critic of China's human rights abuses said in arguing against granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status.
• Excerpts: Three Lawmakers Urge Support for China PNTR 04 May 2000 -- Three supporters of granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China urged their colleagues May 4 to join them when the vote comes up later this month.
• Excerpts: House Members Speak For and Against China PNTR 03 May 2000 -- The debate over granting China permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status continues to draw out lawmakers to take a stand one way or the other before the vote scheduled for late May on the issue.
• Text: Rep. Frank Wolf Testimony at Ways and Means on China 03 May 2000 -- The United States should not grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China because of that country's human rights abuses, according to Representative Frank Wolf (Republican from Virginia).
• Text: Commerce Secretary Daley Testimony on China Trade 03 May 2000 -- U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley announced in testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee that his department would be immediately implementing an "aggressive" five-point plan to ensure China complies with its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations.
• Text: Treasury Secretary on China Trade Relations, WTO 03 May 2000 -- At the end of May both houses of Congress will vote on whether to grant permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China. It will be the most important issue Congress will face this year, Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said.
• Transcript: Two Lawmakers Speak Out Against China Trade Status 03 May 2000 -- A Democrat and a Republican spoke out against granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China in speeches in the House of Representatives.
• CONGRESS / CHINA-TRADE Voice of America 03 May 2000 -- The Clinton administration says it will take strong steps to ensure Chinese compliance with the terms of a new trade deal.
• REMARKS BY SAMUEL R. BERGER ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS ON CHINA The East Asian Institute Columbia University - New York, New York May 2, 2000 -- China will enter the WTO whether we pass PNTR or not. PNTR is especially important for our ability to play a constructive role on the issue of Taiwan, particularly at this critical time.
• CLINTON - CHINA TRADE Voice of America 02 May 2000 -- President Clinton Tuesday night met with Hong Kong Democratic Party leader Martin Lee as the president stepped up his campaign to win congressional approval for permanent normal trade relations for China.
• Text: Commerce Department Announces China Trade Compliance Plan 02 May 2000 -- Secretary of Commerce William Daley outlined a five-step plan to ensure that China lives up to the trade agreement it signed last November with the United States regarding its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Text: Rep. Hoyer Remarks on U.S.-China Trade Relations 02 May 2000 -- Despite "grave reservations" about China's commitment to improving human rights, Representative Steny Hoyer (Democrat of Maryland) says he will support Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for China.
• A MORE OPEN CHINA MEANS A MORE SECURE AMERICA By Madeleine K. Albright The Denver Post 01 May 2000 -- China is changing. Over the past decade, its people have gained more and more control over their daily lives. The role of government in this arena is diminishing, the result primarily of economic reform.

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