Max Baucus: “I am very glad the Senate has voted to invoke cloture and will finally get to the bill granting China permanent normal…”

“I am very glad the Senate has voted to invoke cloture and will finally get to the bill granting China permanent normal trade relations status. That bill will come up in September. That legislation has the strong support of at least three-quarters of the Members of this body, and it is deeply in our national interests. We should have rapidly disposed of it months ago. But later is better than never. I hope very much when we bring it up in September that we have a very large vote--at least three-quarters, as I earlier stated. When we make that vote, it will be a profound choice. The question will be, Do we bring China into the orbit of the global trading community with its rule of law? Or do we choose to isolate and contain China, creating a 21st century version of a cold war in Asia? China is not our enemy. China is not our friend. The issue for us is how to engage China, and this means engagement with no illusions-- engagement with a purpose. How do we steer China's energies into productive, peaceful, and stable relationships within the region and globally? For just as we isolate China at our peril, we engage them to our advantage. The incorporation of China into the WTO--and that includes granting them PNTR--is a national imperative for the United States of America.”