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Text File | 1994-05-02 | 6.3 KB | 127 lines

<text> <title> Editorial Examines Issue Of MFN Status </title> <article> <hdr> Foreign Broadcast Information Service, May 2, 1991 United States: Editorial Examines Issue of MFN Status </hdr> <body> [Editorial: "Obstacles to Most-Favored-Nation Status Should Be Removed". Hong Kong WEN WEI PO in Chinese 2 May 91 p 2] [Text] On the 29th of last month, U.S. President Bush declared in Washington that he was still not clear about what the U.S. Government would do regarding the issue of extending China's most-favored-nation [MFN] status. He also said that the United States must have dealings with a great nation such as China, that this conformed with the interests of the United States, and that it was extremely important to maintain trade relations with China. People in American trade circles also maintained that "not knowing what to do" was merely a matter of procedure and that Bush had to see what the result of a Congress vote would be before he could react. As Administration head, Bush surely hopes to maintain trade relations with China. He sent Robert Michael Kimmitt, undersecretary of state for political affairs, to visit China and this was a positive action. The extension of MFN status is one of the important foundation stones for upholding Sino-U.S. trade relations. MFN status is not a bounty bestowed by one side on the other but a reciprocal action of egalitarianism, mutual benefit, and strengthening trade contacts. When the United States accords China MFN status, the United States also enjoys MFN status accorded by China. Should the United States abolish China's MFN status the inevitable outcome would be that American goods exported to China would face high duties and sales would shrink. Such retrogressive action harms both others and oneself and it is believed that the Bush Administration will make a wise choice. For narrow and limited interests, some U.S. Congressmen have always advocated pursuing protectionism, frequently criticized their trade partners for "dumping," or said that the "quota" and "suspension" systems were to be implemented. Hong Kong businessmen have had experience of this for many years. Under the climate that the U.S. Government engages in "human rights diplomacy" in a big way, it is not strange that some congressmen connect Sino-U.S. bilateral trade with politics and take the opportunity to pursue protectionism. They have erected the following obstacles to the extension of MFN status: 1) China's human rights are poor; 2) The U.S.-China trade deficit is $10 billion; and 3) China sells weapons and nuclear devices, using these as conditions for blackmail. For the past 10 years or more since China carried out reform and opening up, people have enjoyed freedom of speech and peace of mind. It is much better than in any period in the past. Only under the circumstances of stability can China carry out reform and opening up, develop its economy, and improve the people's living standards. China's stability is favorable to the human rights of the Chinese people and to the economic prosperity of the Asian-Pacific region. This is also a viewpoint with which international statesmen agree. Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu and Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei maintain that China's stability is extremely favorable to Asia's stability and that the international community should encourage China to devote itself to reform and opening up. In accordance with the law, China recently tried some people who had genuinely contravened the criminal law and sabotaged China's public security and social order. This is an action any country which devotes itself to upholding stability and law and order would take. Although the U.S. Constitution provides for the freedom to strike, did the Bush Administration not hold that the U.S. railroad workers' general strike impaired the U.S. economy and immediately signed a decree to ban it and to prosecute the offenders? Does not the United States have a record in modern times of trying those who sabotage public security and endanger state safety regulations according to the law? Is not McCarthy's bill retained? Since this is so, what reason or right has the United States to talk about China arbitrarily? The United States uses the so-called "human rights issue" to interfere in China's affairs and this both violates the requirements of international law and harms bilateral relations. As regards the trade deficit issue, due to different methods of calculation, China and the United States each stick to their versions and this question can be completely solved after examination, verification, and consultations by the administrative departments. The prices of ordinary American consumer goods are high and they are unsuitable for the Chinese market. The prices of American high-science and high-technology products are higher but, as slightly more of these products are sold, the question can be solved. If the United States really wants to improve its exports to China, the U.S. side should relax restrictions on exports of high science and high technology to China. This element is controlled by the U.S. side and responsibility does not lie with the Chinese side. Regarding the so-called issue of China selling weapons and nuclear devices, it is just that "when one is out to condemn another, one can always trump up a charge." China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already cleared up the rumor that "China sells equipment that can make nuclear weapons" and the United States need not quibble over this issue. China is open and above board and states that it can accept the International Atomic Energy Agency's supervision, inspection, and verification. "True gold fears no fire." Robert Michael Kimmitt, U.S. undersecretary for political affairs, will visit China. It is believed that he will exchange views on these three issues with China. We hope that the United States will view the questions in a strategic light by vigorously maintaining and developing Sino-U.S. relations, listen to China's views carefully, take the overall situation into consideration, have eyes on the future, and make efforts to remove the obstacles erected by some people to the extension of MFN status. </body> </article> </text>