Ehrlich on Washington column, June 5, 2000

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of June 5, 2000 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. A Vote Against China Trade, A Vote For American Security You may have read about the recent debate in Congress on a measure to expand trade with China. Last week, I voted against granting Congressional approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China. I believe in free trade and have seen the benefits of America’s pursuit of free trade around the world in the past decade. Ordinarily, I vote for fair, free trade bills in Congress. But despite my belief in the benefits of free trade and an educational trip to China, I have serious reservations about China’s recent behavior. China poses a serious national security threat to the United States. China is well known for spreading highly sensitive missile and nuclear reactor technology to dangerous nations such as Pakistan and Iran. Chinese leaders are actively pursuing a military relationship with Russia. For example, last month China bought 24 highly dangerous Russian-made “Sunburn” missiles which China can now use to threaten U.S. naval warships in the Pacific. At a time when it wants the best trade benefits with the United States, China continues its aggressive military buildup of weapons pointed at American families. The Chinese government also continues to threaten military action against the neighboring democratic island of Taiwan, which the United States has pledged to protect against a Communist Chinese attack. The United States maintains strong historical, military, and trade relationships with Taiwan dating back to 1949, when it pursued an independent path to democracy. China’s recent release of a “White Paper” justifying its hostile intentions with regard to Taiwan is unacceptable. In addition to military threats, the Chinese ruling Communist party viciously violates the human rights of dissidents. China persecutes members of the Falun Gong meditation group, uses Chinese prisoners as cheap forced labor for products illegally exported to the United States, and forces abortions on its own people, a practice euphemistically referred to as “family planning.” Continued