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Rolling Cyber Debate Question for John Hagelin from October 18, 2000
From Web White & Blue (http://www.webwhiteblue.org)

Question:
What is your position on permanent normal trade relations with China? Should trade be linked with human rights improvements in Tibet, and lessening of religious persecution by Beijing? How would your administration react if China invaded Taiwan?
Submitted from Kelly of Worcester, Massachusetts through USATODAY.com

Answer:
China is a growing global economic power with an unfortunate track record of human rights violations. China is also a proud nation that has stubbornly resisted Western efforts to intervene in its policies and internal affairs.

Our trade relations with China are vitally important to China's economic growth and constitute our only significant strategic leverage with China. Thus it is important that we extend access to U.S. markets strategically, using trade as an effective "carrot" to promote improvements in China's human rights behavior--including its treatment of Tibet and its persecution of its own religious dissidents. Granting permanent normal trade relations to China destroys any credible threat of denying access to our markets and thus surrenders our key strategic advantage.

Both houses of Congress passed permanent normal trade relations with China, despite opposition by a majority of U.S. citizens-- legitimate opposition due to labor, environmental, and human rights concerns. Passage of permanent normal trade relations was pushed through the Congress by corporate interests more concerned with the sale of tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and Coca-Cola than with labor, the environment, or human rights.

I will remove the undue influence of special interests by eliminating PACs and "soft money" and restore government accountability to the people. I will support balanced, tailored, nation-to-nation trade policies that promote the economic welfare of all Americans, provide markets for our domestic small businesses, safeguard American employment and labor standards, protect human rights, and ensure that imported goods meet our environmental and product safety standards.I will also do my utmost to prevent a Chinese invasion of Taiwan by

1. Providing military advice, training, and equipment to Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to provide a credible response, which will help to discourage a Chinese invasion;
2. Encouraging the newly elected leadership of Taiwan to adopt a less provocative, more cooperative relationship with China, consistent with our "One China" policy; and
3. Diffusing tensions in the region using proven conflict resolution and peace-promoting strategies and technologies.

If, despite these efforts, conflict does erupt, the U.S. should not become engaged militarily, but should muster as much global diplomatic and economic pressure as can be brought to bear on China.

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