Bob Dole: “I signed the letter, along with Senator Helms and Senator Snowe. Regardless of what happens on the cloture vote…”

“I signed the letter, along with Senator Helms and Senator Snowe. Regardless of what happens on the cloture vote tomorrow, there is an issue we should address today: The United States plan to attend the fourth U.N. Conference on Women, scheduled for September in Beijing, China. My amendment would withhold $3.5 million--50 percent of the total account--unless the Secretary of State certifies no United States funds were expended to finance a United States delegation to the women's conference while Harry Wu is detained in China. As you know, since June 19, Harry Wu has been detained in China. Consular access to him, guaranteed under the terms of our 1982 agreement with China, was originally delayed. Last week, a suspicious tape was released by Beijing with Harry Wu confessing that his past exposes on human rights abuses in China were untrue. On July 9, Harry Wu was charged with offenses which could carry the death penalty. In light of his years of experience in the Chinese gulag, there is ample reason to fear for Harry Wu's safety. Our relationship with China is at a crucial crossroads.”