Text: Congressman Decries Beijing's Human Rights Record After PNTR
(Rep. Wolf on PNTR and lack of freedom in China)Since the Beijing regime received Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status it has continued to oppress the Chinese people, says Representative Frank Wolf (Republican of Virginia), a long-time critic of China's human rights record.
In a December 5 speech citing recent human rights abuses by Beijing, Wolf told Congressional supporters of granting China PNTR that they must now speak out against Beijing's actions against its own people.
During the PNTR debate some supporters advanced the argument that PNTR would "bring changes to China, that PNTR would open China, improve human rights, and reduce the national security threat that China poses to the U.S.," Wolf said.
However, the Virginia Republican continued, people in China "continue to be persecuted, imprisoned, and in some cases killed, because of their faith."
Many lawmakers said they voted in favor of PNTR "because they thought it would bring about positive change in China's horrible human rights record, and that giving China PNTR would ultimately increase U.S. national security," Wolf added, but China's record suggests otherwise.
"I urge all those Members who voted for PNTR to challenge the regime in Beijing," Wolf said.
"Speak out because the people who are suffering, who are imprisoned, or who are serving brutal prison through labor sentences need the concerted voice of Congress to bring about real and positive change in China," he said.
Following is the text of Representative Wolf's speech from the extension of remarks from the December 5 Congressional Record:
(begin text)
PNTR HAS PASSED, BUT WHERE IS THE FREEDOM IN CHINA?
HON. FRANK R. WOLF
Extensions of Remarks
December 05, 2000HON. FRANK R. WOLF OF VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, December 5, 2000Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, ``Protestant dies in Chinese jail'' was the headline of a recent article in the Washington Times. According to the article, a Chinese protestant man was arrested on September 4 while worshiping at an underground church service then later died after being beaten and denied medical care while in prison. Liu Haitong was his name. He is one person who will never reap the so-called ``rewards'' of the United States giving China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR).
It has been several months now since the House and Senate passed legislation giving PNTR to China and the president signed it into law. During the debate, we heard the arguments that PNTR will bring changes to China, that PNTR would open China, improve human rights, and reduce the national security threat that China poses to the U.S. However, while the signing ceremonies have taken place and the parties celebrating its passage have occurred, people like Liu Haitong continue to be persecuted, imprisoned, and in some cases killed, because of their faith.
Many Members said that they voted in favor of PNTR because they thought it would bring about positive change in China's horrible human rights record, and that giving China PNTR would ultimately increase U.S. national security.
According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, at least 13 underground Roman Catholic bishops are locked away in Chinese jails, under house arrest, in prison through labor camps, under strict surveillance, or in hiding because of their faith. At least 12 Roman Catholic priests are in prison as are numerous other laity, many of whose whereabouts are unknown. PNTR has passed, but where is freedom for these people of faith?
On the cusp of the vote on PNTR in the Senate on September 14, the Chinese government re-imprisoned Roman Catholic Bishop Zeng Jingmu, Bishop Zeng has spent much of the past 30 years in Chinese prisons and prison labor camps because of his faith. Imagine having to perform forced labor and having to spend most of your life in prison because of your faith.
PNTR has passed, but where is freedom for Bishop Zeng?
Practitioners of Falun Gong continue to be persecuted, beaten, and imprisoned because of their beliefs.
PNTR has passed, but where is freedom for the Falun Gong?
The Chinese government is pillaging Tibet. Thousands of Tibetan Buddhist monks, nuns, and believers are in Chinese prisons because of their faith.
PNTR has passed, but where is freedom for the people of Tibet?
There are hundreds of Protestant House Church leaders in prison and prison through labor camps because of their faith. PNTR has passed, but where is freedom for the Protestants house church?
Thousands of Muslim Uighurs are imprisoned because of their faith.
PNTR has passed, but where is freedom for the Muslim Uighurs?
PNTR has passed, but religious persecution continues unabated in China to this day, over two months after passage.
PNTR has passed, but a November 7 British Broadcasting Company (BBC) report says that the Chinese government is clamping down on the freedom of the Internet by asserting that websites that host chatrooms ``will be held responsible for ensuring that users do not post messages that could be interpreted by the government as `illegal.' '' The BBC report says that the new rules also require ``websites not run by state media to seek approval from the Information Office of the State Council, or cabinet, before they may publish news'' and that ``to publish news from foreign sources, websites must seek special permission.''
PNTR has passed, but the United States is routinely portrayed as Enemy No. 1 by the Chinese military. According to an article in the November 15 Washington Post, the Chinese military is openly grappling with the likelihood that the United States and China could go to war, quoting Liu Jiangjia, an officer in the People's Liberation Army, as saying ``a new arms race has started to develop . . . war is not far from us now.''
PNTR has passed, but there are numerous reports about China's increased presence and role in Africa. The Chinese National Petroleum Company's multibillion dollar investment and operations in the newly exploited oilfields in Sudan are very troubling. The Khartoum regime has one of the worst human rights record on the planet. And yet, the pumping of oil that is now occurring because of China's help is providing the Sudanese government with unprecedented revenue to conduct what many have described as genocide against the southern Sudanese population.
It is clear to me that mere passage of PNTR is not enough to bring about positive change in China. In fact, in my opinion, PNTR has passed, but there is only business as usual in Beijing. There are many people in China who have not benefited from passage of PNTR and who may never benefit, unless those Members who voted for PNTR speak out on behalf of human rights in China.
With permanent normal trade relations now in place, Congress will no longer annually review trade with China. That makes it even more vital that Members be more vocal and assertive in speaking out about human rights abuses in China, and about the national security concerns that continue to develop regarding Beijing.
Those Members who vocally opposed PNTR must continue to speak out as well. But it is even more important for Members who supported PNTR to speak out as their voice, as a supporter of this legislation, may be more powerful and persuasive with the regime in China. And bringing about change in China is what needs to happen now.
I urge all those Members who voted for PNTR to challenge the regime in Beijing. Speak out because the people who are suffering, who are imprisoned, or who are serving brutal prison through labor sentences need the concerted voice of Congress to bring about real and positive change in China.
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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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