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Time - Man of the Year
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Time_Man_of_the_Year_Compact_Publishing_3YX-Disc-1_Compact_Publishing_1993.iso
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1992-09-22
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THE WEEK, Page 23WORLDBeijing's Best Friend
China has not mended its ways, but Bush wants to keep trade
links open
Exactly three years after army tanks crushed the pro-
democracy movement in Beijing, George Bush notified Congress that
he is again granting China most-favored-nation status, which
provides the lowest possible tariff rates. The measure also helps
China to a $12.7 billion surplus in trade with the U.S. "It is
wrong to isolate China," Bush argued, "if we hope to influence
China."
Even Bush did not pretend his policy of engagement with
Beijing's communist autocrats had influenced them much. His
statement found improvements in China's treatment of dissidents
"insufficient" and said its policies overall leave the U.S.
"deeply disappointed." As if to prove Washington's point, police
arrested a lone demonstrator in Tiananmen Square last week and
beat foreign journalists who were watching. Also marking the
anniversary, Amnesty International reported that thousands of
political prisoners are still in jail in China. Says the
organization: "Unfair trial, torture, long-term detention
without charge or trial and summary executions continue."
In Washington, Democrats in Congress introduced a bill
that would permit renewal of most-favored-nation status for
China only if it dramatically improves its respect for human
rights, stops selling nuclear and missile technology abroad,
halts unfair trade practices and gives up its pattern of
copyright violations. Democratic leaders fully expect the bill
to pass, but Bush is just as likely to veto it. As in past
showdowns over China, Congress will probably lack the votes to
override the President.