U.S. Policy on China

Once again, the double standard toward China enforced by the Bush Administration has become blatantly apparent. President Bush has announced he plans to renew China’s most-favored nation (MFN) trade status, which entitles it to sell goods to the United States at the lowest possible tariffs (Part A, May 28).

Despite China’s record on human rights, weapon proliferation and economic trade practices, Bush continues to take a soft stance toward China.

In defense of his policy, Bush cites his blockage of U.S.-manufactured satellite parts to China as a punishment for China’s missiles sales to Third World nations. But this is only one small step. He says he is concerned about China’s human rights record. Yet Bush wants to hand over the MFN status to China without any conditions.

Since the tragic crackdown on the pro-democracy movement on June 4, 1989, the Chinese government has continued to prosecute pro-democracy sympathizers. Hundreds of political prisoners still remain in jail. Re-education programs on the party line continue to be mandatory for college students and, in some cases, down to the elementary school level.

On the trade front, China has refused to protect U.S. patents and copyrights. China continues to violate U.S. quotas by shipping goods to Hong Kong to hide the origin. Breaking both U.S. law and international labor treaty law, the Chinese government employs forced-labor prisoners to manufacture export goods.

Recently, China has disregarded U.S. arms concerns by providing missiles, missile technology and nuclear weapons assistance to Third World countries. Despite a United Nations arms embargo against Iraq, China has reportedly sold weapons parts to Iraq.

Why has Bush decided to reward a government that consistently abuses the rights of its own people? Obviously, this decision strengthens the Chinese hard-liners’ stance against any gesture toward a more democratic system. This double-standard pattern by the Bush Administration only serves to reinforce the suppressive acts of the Chinese government.

CAROL ONG, Unity for Democracy in China, Sacramento