Political Quotes

“I rise today to address United States policy toward China. When Ronald Reagan visited China in 1984, he declared in a speech that: Economic growth and human progress make their greatest strides when people are secure and free to think, speak, worship, choose their own way and reach for the stars. While China has made great strides since Ronald Reagan spoke those words, it is clear today that the people of China are not free to think, speak, worship, or choose their own way. The question is how the United States, a nation conceived in liberty, should respond to continuing violations of basic human rights in China and other actions of the Chinese leadership. Religious persecution, abuses against minorities, coercive family planning, military threats, and weapons proliferation and attempts to improperly influence American elections. All of these policies have been and continue to be undertaken by the Chinese Government. And all of them must stop. One thing is clear, Mr. President: As the world's leading democracy, the United States cannot simply look the other way, ignoring the Chinese Government's record on human rights. And, despite the real and measurable expansion of freedom in some spheres in China, problems remain. The organization Amnesty International has stated that: a fifth of the world's people are ruled by a government that treats fundamental human rights with contempt. Human rights violations continue on a massive scale.…”