William Helms: “today the House in effect approved President Clinton's renewal of most-favored-nation status for the People's Republic…”

“today the House in effect approved President Clinton's renewal of most-favored-nation status for the People's Republic of China. The House failed to adopt a resolution disapproving of Mr. Clinton's renewal of MFN for China. The House thus squandered its opportunity to send a strong signal to the Clinton administration that its policy of engagement with China has not worked. The administration, and others supporting MFN, insisted that they were willing to pressure China on human rights, on trade, on proliferation, and on Hong Kong. They just didn't believe, they insisted repeatedly, that MFN is the way to do it. Fair enough, Mr. President. Taking supporters of MFN at their word, I hope Senators will make clear that if MFN isn't the proper tool to use in trying to influence China on such matters, what is the proper tool? By renewing MFN, President Clinton and supporters of MFN for China, have taken on a new burden--to show they are serious about finding a way to persuade China to stop abusing its citizens rights, stop unfair trade practices, stop sending weapons of mass destruction to rogue regimes, and live up to its commitments on Hong Kong. The debate over China policy is far from over.”