David Skaggs: “I want to see China change. I am tired of waiting for China to improve its human rights record, to stop repressing the…”

“I want to see China change. I am tired of waiting for China to improve its human rights record, to stop repressing the people of Tibet, to allow civil liberties and public dissent, and to stop persecuting religious minorities. I'm deeply disturbed by China's arms sales to Pakistan and Iran. If I could, I would push a button, cast my vote, and make the Chinese Government change its ways. So I understand the appeal of voting for this resolution. It would be very satisfying, for a few minutes, to feel that I did something, that the Congress did something, to make China change. But I have to step back and ask whether revoking most-favored-nation [MFN] trading status to China would have the desired effect, and if not, what will. I don't think passing this resolution will make China change. This cannot be just a one-sided debate. We must consider not only the areas where we have real and heartfelt disagreement with the Chinese Government's actions and policies, but also those often complex areas where Chinese cooperation with the United States has had and will have enormous consequences.”