Thirsting For The Truth

Thirsting For The Truth
by Linda A. Prussen-Razzano

For the last several years, there are a few words that can cause Conservative political junkies to froth at the mouth with unbridled anger: China is one of them.

When one talks about China, the specter of the Cold War looms larger than life…with good reason. Without belaboring the minute details yet again, the fact remains that China has, during the Clinton Administration alone, broken every non-proliferation treaty it ever signed. This, combined with the purchase of influence and espionage, makes Communist China one of the most reviled of all our potential enemies.

Hence, it comes as an unpleasant surprise that some Congressional Republicans are actually backing Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China. Given the amount of damage China has done, given the amount of access it has purchased, given how obviously complicit China has been in subverting dual-use technology for its own gain, one would think we, as a Nation, would approach any engagement with the utmost caution.

Apparently not.

Just last year, Congressman John Porter (R-IL) drafted a condemning "Sense of the Congress," castigating China’s well publicized human-rights violations. "When three prominent dissidents were given absurd prison sentences for their efforts to register the China Democracy Party, there was barely a sound from our administration. When a leading labor activist was arrested for giving an interview on Radio Free Asia, there was hardly a word. When a computer entrepreneur was arrested for selling e-mail addresses to a magazine, which promotes democracy, the silence was deafening. While brave warriors for democracy sit in jail or labor in work camps, the administration has declined to stand up for these people and for the principle they embody. China's actions are indefensible; it is time our Nation stands up and shows China that its actions are unacceptable and the international community is watching." (House of Representatives, E402, Sense of Congress Urging Criticism of People’s Republic of China for human Rights Abuses in China and Tibet at Annual Meeting of United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Honorable John Edward Porter, March 11, 1999).

Notice the righteous indignation. Notice the desire for decency and recognizing human rights. Notice the tangible anger against the Clinton Administration for not speaking up, for not speaking out, for "coddling butchers." Sadly, that was then, and Congressman Porter’s words are now ignored.

This year, House Republicans are joining hands with President Clinton to eliminate the last measure of true economic force we have for bringing about change: our trade barriers and treaties. What has changed in China since then? Next to nothing, actually. The human rights abuses continue. The suppression of religion and free speech continue. The forced abortions continue.

Why do we now feel the need to embrace them? The WTO can accept China without us, if they chose. The status of our trade relations will not effect their entry; however, if they do enter without normalized trade relations, we may be the ones forced over to the sidelines while other countries vie for their markets.

It all comes down to money. We will ignore or overlook their abuses, their continued proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their influence peddling and purchasing, all for the sake of their cold, hard cash. Republicans who support this measure should hang their heads in shame. If they accept this agreement, they do so for the money. They are no better than the political whores who sold our White House and our Commerce Department for the same cold, hard cash.

Ironically, the only one to speak negatively about China in the last few weeks is Freshman Congressman Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA). His sentiments echo the mainstream Conservative voice. "By granting China PNTR, we surrender the only effective economic and political tool to effect positive change in China --the annual vote to renew NTR. Without this, China has little reason to improve its actions and image in the world community. There have been too many broken promises by the Chinese government. There are too many protesters in prison. There are too many religious persecutions. There are too many military threats." (House of Representatives, E464, Granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations, Honorable Joseph M. Hoeffel, March 30, 2000).

I expected to hear this level of truth from my side of the aisle, not the opposite side, but I’ll take the clear, refreshing truth where and when I can get it. Like a determined survivor wandering in the desert, I’m not delusional enough yet to drink the sand; obviously, neither is Congressman Hoeffel.