Joel Hefley: “Mr. Chairman, it is a very simple amendment that would address what I think is a fatal flaw in the Administration's…”

“Mr. Chairman, it is a very simple amendment that would address what I think is a fatal flaw in the Administration's current policy on China. That amendment deals with not all the other things that have been talked about here today, this deals strictly and thoroughly with national security. The amendment would simply prohibit the export or reexport of United States missile technology or equipment to the People's Republic of China. One would think common sense tells us that we should not send any of our defense-related technology or equipment to the only remaining communist country in the world that maintains a nuclear capability. In 1996, the Clinton administration reportedly permitted the two U.S. firms to transfer technology which would improve the accuracy and capability of Chinese ballistic missile forces. Some may say trade involving space launch vehicles and satellite technology used for commercial purposes should not be impeded. But the commercial and military technology in this case are virtually identical, and it is a risk we simply cannot take.”