A Partner Is More Likely To Pay Heed Open The Door Permanent Ties Will Let Freedom Invade.

Fri., May 12, 2000

By John Webster johnwe@spokesman.com (509) 459-5421

China has an abominable human rights record.

What should the United States do about it? Isolating and scolding China didn’t bring freedom to its people. Hostilities beget hostility.

But when President Richard Nixon opened China’s door, he started a slow process of change that continues today. China’s economy is booming and its openness is growing. Do we want China open toward us - or toward Iran?

It is time to complete Nixon’s initiative and let the infectious force of freedom do its work. It is time for Congress to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Doing so will not grant a single trade concession by the United States, for China already has normal trade privileges, which Congress renews every year after a round of ineffectual sermonizing. But if China does receive permanent trade status, it could join the World Trade Organization. Membership in WTO would obligate China to abide by WTO rules. Those rules could subject China to worldwide sanctions if it were to engage in unfair practices.

China also has agreed to grant significant concessions in exchange for permanent normal trade status - concessions of huge importance to workers’ right here in Washington state.

China would slash tariffs and lower barriers to U.S. exports, such as Eastern Washington wheat. Low demand for their wheat has left our area’s farmers on bankruptcy’s brink. They’d gain from a chance to penetrate the huge China market. So long as China doesn’t buy from U.S. farmers, it simply buys from competing farmers in France, Canada, Australia and Argentina.

A no vote will hurt local farmers, not China.

The Puget Sound economy hums thanks to export products such as airplanes and technology. A strengthening of wheat exports would boost the weak east-side economy. China also offers to import modern telecommunication products. This is an opening for freedom itself to invade. Elsewhere, human rights abuses such as India’s female infanticide are weakening in response to a freer flow of information and education.

China wants a stronger relationship with us and is offering concessions to get it. That is an opportunity we ought to embrace, for a partner is more likely to accept our values than a foe.

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