John Kerry: “the Senate is debating an important question with tremendous ramifications for our relationship with China and the…”

“the Senate is debating an important question with tremendous ramifications for our relationship with China and the American economy: whether to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China (PNTR). The opponents of PNTR argue that China is not worthy of receiving PNTR. They offer a laundry list of reasons. Its track record on human rights has not only not improved but has gotten worse. It continues to ignore commitments made in the nonproliferation area, particularly with respect to the spread of missile technology. Its intimidation of Taiwan continues, with little indication that Chinese leaders are prepared to avail themselves of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's offers to begin negotiations. Its compliance with existing agreements leave a lot to be desired. They speak passionately about those concerns. And these issues should never be overlooked in any thoughtful analysis of our relationship with China. They must productively be incorporated into a policy of engagement; but make no mistake: we must have a policy of engagement. I support PNTR and I intend to vote for it. I will admit to you that when I read recent press accounts of yet another crackdown on religious practitioners in China--this time members of a Christian sect called the China Fang-Cheng Church--and of the deaths of three Falung Gong members who have been imprisoned--I understood once more the temptation to reverse my position and vote against PNTR.”