TEXT: DAS LANGE 11/4 REMARKS ON CHINA AND WTO ACCESSION
(Administration seeks secure, open, integrated China)

Washington -- The Administration seeks the emergence of a secure, stable, and open China, according to Howard Lange, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

"Administration policy is to encourage China's integration into global institutions and its adherence to international norms and to maintain a constructive and productive relationship with China," Lange said in November 4 remarks before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. "A commitment to advance U.S. interests by promoting China's adherence to international norms will remain a central theme of our efforts in all areas of our relationship with China, including nonproliferation, human rights, and law enforcement, as well as trade."

The recent summit meeting between President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin "achieved a number of concrete outcomes" on many issues, but human rights remains one area in which the United States and China continue to have differences, according to Lange.

"Human rights is perhaps the most difficult area of our relationship and the one in which progress is slowest and most difficult to measure. We will continue our strong efforts to advance our interests in this area, which is critical to maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with China," he said.

Following is the text of Lange's remarks, as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

TESTIMONY OF
ACTING DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS HOWARD H. LANGE
BEFORE THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, TRADE SUB-COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 4, 1997

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee. I'd like to offer a brief statement which I hope provides a context for the discussion today of the WTO accession process and broader economic relations with China.

Comprehensive Engagement

The Administration believes that U.S. interests are best served by a secure, stable and open China. The manner in which we engage China will help determine whether it becomes integrated into international norms and institutions or whether it becomes isolated hostile, and unpredictable. We believe the strategy of comprehensive engagement is the best approach to encourage the development of a China which is a constructive player in international systems.

Administration policy is to encourage China's integration into global institutions and its adherence to international norms and to maintain a constructive and productive relationship with China. Attainment of these objectives is important to the security and well-being of Americans. China is a nuclear weapons state and producer of sophisticated technology. If we are to have a world in which weapons of mass destruction are effectively controlled it will require China's cooperation and adherence to international proliferation norms. Combatting alien smuggling, narcotics trafficking and terrorism, also require a China which participates constructively in the network of international institutions that attack such problems. As the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China's participation in international efforts to address global warming is critical. In recent years China has played a very helpful role in support of our efforts to keep peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. Yet we hope for more progress on security issues, with, for example, increasing transparency in China's own military establishment.

In no area is China's adherence to international norms more important than human rights. Exposure to the outside world and the exchange of goods, ideas, and people has brought increased openness, social mobility and personal liberties to China. While these developments are positive, they are not sufficient. China continues to deny or curtail basic freedoms, including freedom of speech association, press and freedom to practice religion. China must do much more to bring its human rights practices into accord with international norms.

The recent history of Asia shows that over time, economic development leads to growth of an educated and aware middle class and of a civil society. This in turn leads to democracy, and this is the path we want to encourage China to travel.

Trade, the principal focus of this hearing, is an important area where China's integration into international institutions, especially the WTO, and adherence to international norms can reinforce a positive evolution of China and its institutions. Your USTR witness will cover this issue, including our bilateral trade relationship, in detail, and I will defer to her for that discussion. I would emphasize, however, that the value to Americans from a commercially viable WTO accession package goes beyond dollars and cents. China's increasing recognition of international trade norms entails the recognition of fundamental concepts of rule of law, such as transparency, contract sanctity, and the need for an independent judiciary. These concepts will have an impact across the board as we work with China to address all the issues I have cited above, including weapons proliferation, human rights, and the environment. In this sense our trade agenda actively and directly supports the broader agenda of our engagement policy. Far from being in conflict with our overall goals, our trade objectives support what we are trying to accomplish.

Summit Results

Against this backdrop of our overall strategy, let me sketch some summit results, which we believe have furthered the goals I have described.

First, I'd note that the two Presidents had a good exchange of views on the international situation, U.S.-China relations, and the important opportunities and challenges facing the two countries. They also had a very frank exchange of views, in public and private, on the areas where we differ, especially human rights. Direct communication between the top levels of our governments is essential to addressing differences, deepening mutual understanding, and avoiding misconceptions. In addition, we achieved a number of concrete outcomes, including:

-- bringing China's nuclear non-proliferation policies and practices into line with international norms;

-- enhancing cooperation in addressing the intertwined issues of energy and the environment;

-- holding regular summits and other meetings at senior levels, which will help us expand cooperation and narrow differences with China;

-- enhancing cooperation in law enforcement, including stationing of DEA officers at our Embassy in Beijing, and in promoting the rule of law in China;

-- taking steps to develop military-to-military relations in ways that minimize the chance of miscalculation, advance transparency, and strengthen communication.

In the area of human rights, China has recently taken some positive actions, which include inviting a group of American religious leaders to visit China to observe Chinese religious practices; agreeing to begin preparatory talks on establishing a forum for U.S. and China NGOs and officials to discuss human rights; and signing the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Human rights is perhaps the most difficult area of our relationship and the one in which progress is slowest and most difficult to measure. We will continue our strong efforts to advance our interests in this area, which is critical to maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with China.

A commitment to advance U.S. interests by promoting China's adherence to international norms will remain a central theme of our efforts in all areas of our relationship with China, including nonproliferation, human rights, and law enforcement, as well as trade.

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