Political Quotes

“As we debate whether or not to renew MFN status for China, we must remember that the debate is not simply over whether China has committed human rights abuses. It has been well-documented by international human rights groups, such as Asia Watch, that China has and continues to abuse the basic rights of its own people. As reported by the Washington Post, New York Times, all the networks--China continues to export products made by prison labor; China continues to routinely round up and jail political dissidents; China continues to persecute Christians and other people who believe in something more than the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Government does not even bother to deny its actions. In reality, there is very little to debate in terms of the Chinese Government's human rights policy. No, the debate over renewal of China MFN status should be seen in the wider context of our economic and trade relationship with China; and further how that trade relationship affects the progress toward democracy-building and respect for individual citizens in both China and here in this country. The debate should be over whether America wants to be an active supporter, by renewing MFN status, of labor abuses in China and the continued loss of jobs in the United States. The debate should be over who actually is benefitting from the renewal of China MFN status--what U.S. corporations have a stake in China.”