If the amendments as proposed are all adopted. it would certainly make it a better piece of legislation. but my preference is that measure which we did pass and the House has spoken today. The idea of conditioning Chinas 1991 MFN status on whether it makes significant progress toward meeting certain human rights objectives essentially gives China that one more chance. and it is that same one more chance that it has received since 1980. Chinas emigration policy. the true determinant under our law of whether a nation is entitled to MFN status. was deplorable in 1980. is deplorable in 1990. and even worsened as a result of the massacre in Tiananmen Square. Chinas emigration policy was. and still is. inconsistent with the freedom of emigration requirements set forth in our law. the JacksonVanik law. Enough is enough. Chinas MFN status should not be extended at all. That privilege must be revoked and should have been a long time ago. The measure at hand is little more than a watereddown slap on the wrist. a slap the repressive Chinese leaders would merely laugh at and welcome with open arms. That merciless regime knows that H.R. 4939 gives it the flexibility and wiggle room it needs to continue restricting the emigration of citizens and to carry out its brutal human rights abuses and religious persecution. Am I implying that supporters of this bill condone the harsh policies of the Chinese Government. or are any less outraged than I am with that regime? No.
Keywords matched
emigration