
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990                   TAG: 9005250546
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

CHINESE TRADE STATUS FACES OPPOSITION IN CONGRESS

Members of Congress are trying to stop President Bush from giving another year of trade benefits to China, whose leaders they called butchers and pirates.

Bush announced on Thursday he would extend most favored nation trade status to China for an additional year, despite the administration's unhappiness with Beijing's human rights policies following the June 1989 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators at Tiananmen Square.

This is the second time in a year the president has fought with Congress over China. The last time, when the issue was how to protect Chinese students studying in this country, Bush won a narrow victory.

The announcement touched off a firestorm on Capitol Hill, in part because many lawmakers thought Bush might impose some conditions on Beijing at the same time he approved trade benefits.

Most of the criticism came from Democrats, but a few Republicans were angry, too.

"The president's repeated concessions for the Chinese government have been met with intransigence," said Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine. "The answer is not more concessions. That doesn't make sense."

House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., criticized Bush for failing to put any conditions on the one-year extension to prod China toward reforms.

"I think he faces some very severe problems here," Foley said. "At the present time, I would say there are not the votes to approve it."

Mitchell vowed to "aggressively and vigorously" pursue legislative action to revoke China's trade benefits.

Most members criticized China's human rights record. By extending favored trade status, "We are only legitimizing the bankrupt and repressive butchers of Beijing," said Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif.

One of the president's few defenders was Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa. "Closing down the economy may slam the door on political reform" in China, he said.

Members didn't waste any time introducing bills that could end most-favored-nation status for China. Resolutions disapproving the extension were introduced in the House and Senate. If passed, Bush could veto them. Both houses would need a two-thirds vote to override the veto.

by CNB