November 12, 1999
Web posted at: 3:54 p.m. EST (2054 GMT)

YORBA LINDA, California (CNN) -- Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes unveiled Friday the tough line he would take against the People's Republic of China should he be elected president, saying China's rise as a world power must be dealt with "now, rather than later."

Forbes, speaking at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California, said the current U.S. policy of "engaging" the world's most populous nation is doomed to failure, possibly resulting in disastrous consequences for the United States and its Pacific allies.

"Our failure to properly deal with Germany and Japan early cost the world dearly later on, " Forbes said. "We dare not make the same mistake with China."

The publisher, who also campaigned for the 1996 GOP nomination, said the Clinton Administration's's doctrine of constructive engagement with the People's Republic was based on a flawed foreign policy construct. China, he said, is foundering spiritually and ideologically, and the U.S. attempts to engage its communist government fall short of bettering life for China's 1 billion people.

"The Chinese government is quickly losing its ideological legitimacy," Forbes said. Beijing, he continued, can "maintain its rule with force, but cannot draw strength from the ideology of Marx and Mao."

This "ideological rot," Forbes added, has left many Chinese "casting about for new beliefs," as evidenced by the rise of Christianity in recent years, and the explosion of the Falun Gong spiritual group.

"Since the Tiananmen Square massacre," Forbes said. U.S. China policy has been mired in a "decade of drift, indecision and just plain bad judgment."

Under a Forbes Administration, this "appeasement" would come to and end, he said.

Forbes recommended that the U.S. toughen its stance against Beijing's central government, while striving to promote democracy and religious and expressive freedom to the Chinese people.

His first priority, he said, would be to "protect American sovereignty and national security" in the face of Chinese expansion, adding that Chinese corporate plans to maintain the entrance and exit points of the Panama Canal would not fly with the U.S. under a Forbes presidency.

The second Forbes strategic objective would be strenuous U.S. insistence that China alter its human rights record by ceasing its reported persecution of Christians, Tibetan Buddhists and members of other religious groups; releasing political prisoners; ceasing alleged acts of organ harvesting and slave labor in its state-run prison system; and bringing an end to its government-sanctioned one child policy, which has resulted in numerous abortions.

Under the Forbes plan, the United States would increase its economic, diplomatic and defensive contacts with Taiwan, pledging to defend Taiwan from Chinese aggression, and pushing for the ascension of Taiwan -- rather than China -- to the World Trade Organization.

"Yes to Taiwan in the WTO and no to China," he said. "Beijing hasn't earned it, and we shouldn't give it. Period."

In the process, Forbes continued, the U.S, would engage the Chinese people through expended Radio Free Asia broadcasts, and possibly by setting up a "Free China" Internet gateway.

The Chinese people, he said, are experiencing a "great spiritual awakening," despite the "lifeless, soulless marriage of materialism and state control" presented by their government.

"The time has come to make common cause with the aspirations of the people of China," he said.

Written by Ian Christopher McCaleb.

Friday, November 12, 1999

• Athletes, sports franchise owners line up behind 2000 presidential candidates
• Des Moines Register Bush's ads English-only so far in Iowa
• Congressional, administration budget negotiators continue to seek resolution
• Clinton signs banking overhaul measure
• Forbes breaks out big stick, reveals 'new' China policy in key speech
• Broadcasters, Internet groups in showdown over television licenses
• Poll: Democratic advantage may be a bigger help in congressional races
• 'Nightline' pulls out of debate
• Congressional impasse delays aviation construction money
• Gore turned down offer to avoid Vietnam draft
• Hillary Clinton calls Mrs Arafat comments baseless
• Authorities: Taxpayers losing millions in prescription scam

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