David Skaggs: “I want to see China improve its human rights record, stop repressing the people of Tibet, allow civil liberties and…”

“I want to see China improve its human rights record, stop repressing the people of Tibet, allow civil liberties and public dissent, and stop persecuting religious minorities. 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, now called Normal Trade Relations (NTR), for 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 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. And there are important areas where China has cooperated with us: working with us to stop North Korea's nuclear weapons development; helping us in the UN Security Council on the war against Iraq and subsequent sanctions; assisting U.S. efforts to implement the nuclear test ban and extend the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. In these areas, cooperation and engagement with China made all the difference in policies that are vital to our national security. I have long advocated improved human rights in China.”