On the recordJune 24, 1997
I rise today to oppose the renewal of the most-favored-nation [MFN] trade status of the People's Republic of China because China continues to deny the greater part of its citizenry the most basic human rights; engages in the worst kinds of religious, political, and ethnic persecution; bully neighboring countries; and undermines international stability by exporting missiles and nuclear technology to some of the world's leading rogue nations. Every year, we are told that MFN promotes continued economic growth and human rights in the People's Republic of China. While MFN has helped China expand its economy, and improve the living standards of a relatively small number of its citizens, I believe it is an absolute leap of faith to argue that China's economic growth has benefited the vast majority of its 1.4 billion citizens who continue to be denied-- sometimes forcibly--the freedom to think, speak, read, worship, and vote as they wish.
Source
govinfo.gov
