Text: Gilman, Markey Introduce Bill to Curb Chinese Proliferation
(H.R. 4829 would penalize China for proliferation activities)Representative Ben Gilman (Republican of New York), the chairman of the House International Relations Committee, and Representative Edward Markey (Democrat of Massachusetts), co-chair of the House Nonproliferation Task Force introduced H.R. 4829 July 13, legislation that would penalize China for its proliferation activities.
The bipartisan action in the House of Representatives complements similar legislation in the Senate sponsored by Senators Fred Thompson (Republican of Tennessee) and Robert Torricelli (Democrat of New Jersey).
The House bill, titled "The China Nonproliferation Act," would require the U.S. President to submit annually a report "describing any person that engages in proliferation activities with China or within China," according to a news release from Gilman's office.
The bill would allow the U.S. President to "apply measures against the government of China in a phased manner," with penalties gradually expanding in later years.
After the first annual report, according to the news release, the President could choose to stop "all military cooperation with China, foreign assistance, other financial transactions and sales of munitions."
A year later, the President could decide on "additional sanctions involving scientific, academic exchanges, financial transactions and sales of controlled technologies," with additional measures to be used in following years.
Following is the text of the news release:
(begin text)
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: July 13, 2000
FOR RELEASE: Immediate
BIPARTISAN CHINA NONPROLIFERATION ACT
INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
GILMAN AND MARKEY INTRODUCE
COMPANION TO THOMPSON-TORRICELLI BILLWASHINGTON (July 13) -- Reps. Ben Gilman (R-NY), chairman of the House International Relations committee, and Edward Markey (D-MA), co-chair of the House Nonproliferation Task Force, introduced today a bipartisan measure, H.R. 4829, to sanction China when it violates existing treaties restricting the export of weapons of mass destruction technology to third parties.
The Gilman-Markey bill is the companion to a Senate measure authored by Senators Fred Thompson (R-TN) and Robert Torricelli (D-NJ).
"It is a vital national interest that we prevent, deter, and reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to our homeland and our armed forces abroad," said Gilman. "China is an irresponsible proliferator of WMD and advanced ballistic missiles that are undermining American interests and peace and stability in East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. The administration's confidence in China's nonproliferation policies and practices is misplaced and must be addressed by the Congress."
"China's continuing reluctance to be open and frank about its role in facilitating the spread of weapons of mass destruction is a red flag that we cannot ignore," said Markey. "This legislation is a balanced but tough measure designed to contain and prevent the proliferation of the seeds of world destruction. I can think of no higher priority as we engage in the trade of increasingly sophisticated technology throughout China."
China's role in supplying sensitive nuclear, missile, and chemical weapons technologies around the world remains an issue of major concern despite the PRC's willingness to reduce trade barriers. The currently available evidence suggests that while China has made some improvements in this area, they continue to engage in or permit dangerous exports of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) technologies to other countries. In particular, government and nongovernmental nonproliferation experts believe that China provided critical assistance to the Pakistani nuclear weapons program.
The Gilman-Markey bill, titled "The China Nonproliferation Act," is the companion to S. 2645, a Senate measure introduced by Senators Thompson and Torricelli. It would provide that:
(1) Every year the President submit a report describing any person that engages in proliferation activities with China or within China;
(2) The President shall then halt any dealings with those persons identified in the report, unless the President reports to Congress that the person was unaware of the proliferation activity, the transfer was consistent with existing international agreements, or that it is important to the national security of the United States not to apply such measures;
(3) The President shall apply measures against the government of China in a phased manner:
-- After the report, the President may choose to cease all military cooperation with China, foreign assistance, other financial transactions and sales of munitions;
-- One year later, the President may choose additional sanctions involving scientific, academic exchanges, financial transactions and sales of controlled technologies;
-- After another year, the President may apply additional measures.
(4) If the President does not impose the appropriate measures against the person, the Congress can pass a joint resolution mandating application of the measures.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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