Immediately following the Tiananmen crackdown. he promised to suspend all politicallevel exchanges with China. Yet within a month. he dispatched National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft to Beijinga trip that was kept secret from the Congress and the American people and was only acknowledged after it was reported by the press in December. When Congress sought to extend the visas of Chinese students living in the United States. President Bush vetoed the legislation and said he would extend the visas by Executive order. The White House subsequently denied that this promise had been made before finally capitulating and extending the visas. The President also waived sanctions suspending the export of satellites. the sale of aircraft. and the delay of international loans to China. In response to these gestures. the Chinese Government detained up to 30.000 prodemocracy dissidents. executed an undisclosed number of these brave individuals. sentenced more than 800 to prison. and brought new charges against individuals who supported the democracy movement.