Political Quotes

“Finally, I would like to point out that my support for permanent normal trade relations with China is based not just on an assessment of the economic benefits to the U.S., not just on the prospects for political reform in China, but also on the impact on our national security. As I discussed during the debate on the Thompson amendment at some length, improving our trade relations with China will help put the overall relationship on a sounder footing. We need to cooperate with China to rein in North Korea's nuclear missile ambitions, to prevent a destabilizing nuclear arms race in South Asia, and to combat the threats of international terrorism and narcotics trafficking. We cannot work effectively with China in these areas if we are treating them as an enemy in our trade relations. Let me quote General Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: ``I think from every standpoint--from the strategic standpoint, from the standpoint of our national interests, from the standpoint of our trading interests and our economic interests--it serves all of our purposes to grant permanent normal trading relations.'' So, with all due respect to my colleagues who have brought before us the images of the worst in China today, we must keep the full picture before us and keep our eye on the ball. China is changing. We must do what we can to encourage those changes. Can we control that change? Of course not.…”