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China's Trade Status

President Bill Clinton announced this week he wants to renew most-favored-nation trade status for China. Virtually all of the e-mail that we've gotten takes the opposite view. Here's a sample, and if you'd like to comment, send us e-mail at editor@AllPolitics com. Be sure to include your name and home town.

'Merely Buying Time'

China's economy has rapidly expanded as a free market under a totalitarian regime. It seems likely that economic expansion will lead to some attempt for military expansion and eventual domination in the region at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Likely candidates for Chinese military aggression are Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the possibility of involvement in the Korean situation.

While it is true that any attempt to successfully invade Taiwan would likely end in frustration -- due to the country's isolation from China's mainland, and Japan -- China's natural historic enemy -- would hamper China's efforts in the Pacific Rim, it is also true that the proposed closing of U.S. military bases and cutback of U.S. troops would hamper any attempt to provide support in the event China exercises its "will to power" in the region.

Mr. Clinton is merely buying time with his decision to proceed with most-favored-nation trading status. He hopes to forestall trouble with China until such time as he leaves office. This is not the way to conduct foreign policy. Mr. Clinton shows once again that his judgment in foreign affairs is woefully lacking.

-- Robert Wawee, Euless, Texas, May 20


'Political Pocket Padding'

Isn't it clear, since the campaign finance scandals, that China's MFN status is based on political pocket padding? Your poll clearly indicates that most viewers here are unaware of the human atrocities done by the communist government in China. People need to take a look at what they buy every day at Bloomingdales and Wal-mart. A large percentage of these items are produced by almost slave labor in communist China. Maybe CNN needs to cover more of these human rights violations so that we can understand exactly who we are trading with.

-- Glen Simons, Raleigh, N.C., May 20


'Acting As Accomplices'

We should not extend most-favored-nation status to the China, a nation whose government has repeatedly committed actions that are against the very principles that we as a nation stand for. The Chinese government has acted with wide disregard to the generally held standards for the appreciation of human life in their treatment of their own citizens, their continued use of slave labor and their suppression of democratic activists. If we as a nation continue to extend to the Chinese government an open hand, then we are acting as accomplices to their misdeeds. We should refuse to grant MFN status to China until they have suffered enough economic repercussions that they start to take serious steps towards ending the tyranny that they have imposed upon their own nation and stop backing away from the initiatives that they made in good faith with the British government concerning Hong Kong.

-- Graham Leonard, Holliston, Mass., May 20


'One Word -- Money'

It might work, but why should we extend trade with them. One word -- money.

America is supposed to be a country with ideals about human rights. Why should we extend anything to China when they can't even treat their own people with respect? I am sure the bottom line is involved in this, but it is disheartening to be forced to remember that we are a country with too many double standards. This is just one of the many. No wonder no one cares anymore because no one knows which standard is the real truth. If any truth really exists.

-- Diamond V. Lynch, Fairfax, Va., May 20


'No Particular Standards'

Given the testimony of many regarding the human rights violations of China, it seems as though to give them favored-nation trading status suggests that we have no particular standards with regard to whom we will do business with. Seemingly, as long as there is money to be made we will look away at the policies of nations who violate human rights. Not unlike the influence the national government had during the civil rights reforms of the '60s and '70s (and earlier attempts), money tends to talk and motivate some people to do the right thing, like it or not, but if we have no leverage then our ability to influence for the good of others seems diminished to some degree. Bottom line is, can we lay down our own ethics to do business with those who blatantly disregard some of the values we hold dear, (i.e. human rights as the most basic of baselines) to benefit ourselves financially which is the only reason we would even consider laying down our own ethics, to make a buck so to speak.

-- C. Webb, Oxnard, Calif., May 19


'Love Affair With China'

I only hope that when they start on the love affair with China, that they keep in mind two things. One is that Russia was quoted once, "We will not wage war, as to destroy the U.S.A. would be of no value to us. Instead, we will come in by the back door." And second is the statement China made, "We will not be goaded into war with the United States, until we are ready; once ready, we would not hesitate." Those two quotes might of just gone by a person such as Clinton as he was too busy defending the other side or was too young when these statements were made. Thank you.

-- Eddie Butler, Hansville, Wash., May 19


'Pay Off'

Of course. The crooked politician took graft from the Communist Chinese and now he's going to pay off.

-- Peter Bishop, Houston, Texas, May 19


'Bought And Paid For'

Giving most favored nation status to China just shows how Clinton is bought and paid for by the Chinese. With all their human rights violations and China's persecution of Tibet and Taiwan, the U.S. has no business doing business with China

-- Joe Lewallen, Redding, Calif., May 19


'This All Smells Fishy'

No MFN status for China! We all know about their human rights violations, their dealing with arms to Iran, and their attempts to gain influence on our elections. We need to get Charlie Trie back. (Where is he, Mr. Clinton?) Get John Huang to testify, the Kanchanalaks back, the Chinese arms dealers etc. This all smells fishy. Fish rot from the head down! Congress will decide in the long run. Its going to be a hot summer!

-- Jay Howard Smith, Forestville, Md., May 19


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