Benjamin Gilman: “the President has announced his intention to submit to Congress the certification necessary to implement the 1985 United…”

“the President has announced his intention to submit to Congress the certification necessary to implement the 1985 United States-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, thereby enabling the People's Republic of China to obtain United States nuclear technology. No United States President, not President Reagan nor Bush, and until now not President Clinton, has made such a certification. Why? Because Communist China's nuclear, chemical, biological and missile proliferation makes it the Wal-Mart of international commerce. China's record is not only reprehensible, it mocks repeated assurances to our Nation that it would stop proliferating to countries such as Pakistan and Iran. In that regard, I urge all Members to examine the compendium I am placing in the Record, a compendium dated November 4, 1997, detailing China's nuclear nonproliferation promises from 1981 through 1997. Yet despite promises and subsequent violations of those promises, the Clinton administration is willing to open the door to China for critical United States nuclear assets. Moreover in the wake of last week's summit, we have heard nothing that gives us confidence that the Chinese are willing to provide ironclad, enforceable assurances that any promises with regard to the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran would be kept.”