Mike Thompson: “we will shortly be taking up the matter of permanent normal trade relations with China. Mr. President, normally, I do…”

“we will shortly be taking up the matter of permanent normal trade relations with China. Mr. President, normally, I do not think matters of trade should be encumbered by other non-trade considerations; however, in the case of China, the situation is different. Not only are we considering trade with someone other than an ally, someone other than a nation that shares our values and outlooks on life, but we are beginning a new relationship with a nation that is actively involved in activities that go against the national security of this nation, and go against the security of the entire world. China still is one of the world's leading proliferators of weapons of mass destruction. We are right now engaged in a debate in this country over a national missile defense because of the activities of certain rogue nations and the weapons of mass destruction that they are rapidly developing. They're developing those weapons, Mr. President, in large part because of the assistance they're getting from the Chinese. The Rumsfeld Commission reported in July of 1998 that 'China poses a threat as a significant proliferator of ballistic missiles, weapons of mass destruction, and enabling technology.'”