Arlen Specter: “I compliment my colleagues, the Senator from Tennessee and the Senator from Delaware, for their comments this morning…”

“I compliment my colleagues, the Senator from Tennessee and the Senator from Delaware, for their comments this morning, calling attention to the major international problems on nuclear proliferation. This body will soon be voting on legislation to have permanent normal trade relations with China. As noted by the Senator from Tennessee, the People's Republic of China happens to be a major violator in proliferating nuclear weapons. They sent the M-11 missiles to Pakistan, which have been the basis for the nuclear arms confrontation between India and Pakistan. They have helped to proliferate weapons in Iran and North Korea. It is my view that the best way to restrain the People's Republic of China from posing an enormous international threat is to continue to give them permanent trade relations on an annual basis. I hope he will join me in ultimately opposing normal trade relations as the best leverage to try to keep the People's Republic of China in line.”