American University Library

CHINA AND THE ISSUE OF MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS: 1989-1992 by Sally Bryant submitted to the Faculty of the School of International Service of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in International Affairs Signatures ^of Committee: Chair: Dean of the College Jfrnveuy■M ) f Date 1993 The American University Washington, D.C. 20016 AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1463255 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI ® UMI Microform 1463255 Copyright 2009 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PO Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHINA AND THE ISSUE OF MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS: 1989-1992 BY SALLY BRYANT ABSTRACT Since the June 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident Sino-American relations have been strained, especially human rights issues. This paper examines the sources of the conflict and its effect on America’a China policy. Finding a consensus on how best to handle a country like China that is repressive, Communist, and often at odds with the United States has been difficult. Thus, the Bush Administration and Congress have struggled for the leading role in forming U.S. policy toward China. Both sides differ on how change can be most effectively accelerated in an authoritarian state like the PRC. Bush believes in active diplomatic engagement with China, while Congress feels passing legislation conditioning China’s Most- Favored-Nation status is the appropriate method. However, recent improvements in China’s human rights have led President-elect Clinton to support unconditional MFN. Thus, there is a new consensus that American economic involvement in China promotes the process of economic and political reforms. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ii List of Tables v INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter 1. HISTORY 7 U.S. View Reagan Administration Bush Administration 2. BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT DEBATE OVER MFN FOR CHINA 28 Other Trade Arrangements Trade Act of 1974 Tiananmen Square Incident Initial Reaction 3. HUMAN RIGHTS 42 Human Rights Human Rights In China The U.S. View Chinese Student Movement Abortion and Forced Sterilization Chinese Dissidents Tibet iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PART TWO: CONTINUATION OF CHAPTER THREE The Baker Visit Prison Labor Exports Congressional Action S. 2808 Presidential Election Memorandum of Understanding 4. CONCLUSION 95 REFERENCE LIST 110 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES 1. China's Statistics 18 2. U.S. Investment Position Abroad, by Country: 1980 to 1989 20 3. U.S. Government Foreign Grants and Credits, 1946 to 1989 21 4. MFN Duty Rates 29 5. Top 25 U.S. Imports from China in 1990 30 6. Population and Area 37 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INTRODUCTION In the three years since the incident at Tiananmen Square friendly relations between the United States (U.S.) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) have been strained. Citizens of the United States were appalled as they watched on television the Chinese Red Army massacre students of the Chinese democracy movement in Beijing on June 3-4, 1989. After viewing these events first hand, the American public became critical of the Chinese government. Accordingly, the American revulsion from the incident has broken down the previous decade-long consensus on China policy in the United States, and the issue has dictated the PRC policy of the United States ever since. Since Tiananmen Square, the Bush Administration and Congress have struggled for the leading role in forming U.S. policy toward China. There has been the presumption in foreign policy that the President sets the long-term and short-term objectives of the United States. Instead of speaking of "U.S. foreign policy" Americans talk instead of Nixon's foreign policy, Reagan's, or Bush's. Thus, the President represents American interests abroad. However, in a break from past procedure, Congress has attempted in the Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. last few years to shape the post-Tiananmen Square relationship with China. This paper examines the sources of the conflict, its consequences for the formulation and conduct of foreign policy, and its effect on the China policy of the United States. This executive-legislative conflict has its roots in the Constitution of the United States. The powers granted by Article two give the President the role of Commander in Chief of the military, the power to appoint ambassadors, negotiate and ratify treaties, and receive ambassadors from foreign nations. In Article one, however, Congress can regulate intrastate and international commerce and taxes which apply to Most-Favored-Nation (hereafter MFN) status. Thus, Congress has the right to use trade as a vehicle to become involved in foreign policy issues. In the 1970s Congress sought new avenues to become involved in foreign policy, especially in the area of human rights. Through its power to control trade, legislators exercised their rights to restrict (or grant) trade preferences, or imposes trade sanctions to exert influence over countries that are thought to abuse human rights. By passing the Trade Act of 1974 Congress spoke out against Soviet emigration laws which barred Soviet Jews from resettling in Israel. Included in the act was the Jackson- 2 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Vanik Amendment, which made MFN status contingent upon the liberalization of communist policies regarding emigration. In subsequent years, trade has become a tool by which Congressmen have guaranteed to U.S. allies special economic privileges to American markets, while imposing penalties on its Cold War enemies, particularly the Soviet Union and the PRC. When China received MFN status in 1980, the issue of its human rights violations grew markedly more important to Congress. Nonetheless, until June 1989 growing PRC economic and political liberalization under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping blunted American criticism of Chinese human rights practices.1 During the 1980s, both Congress and Presidents Reagan and Bush extended MFN annually to China with little acrimony. However, the incident at Tiananmen Square in June 1989 opened a floodgate of criticism from the American people and government in regards to China's human rights abuses. President Bush and his aides on the National Security ^ecil V. Crabb, Jr., and Pat M. Holt, Invitation to Struggle 4th edition (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1992): 249. 3 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Council took the lead in formulating the U.S. response.2 President Bush believes the correct China strategy (and one he has followed since being elected in 1988) is "'engagement: ' high-level consultations, his personal touch and the expansion of economic contacts."3 In Congress Bush's position is supported by Republican Leader Senator (Sen.) Bob Dole, R-Kan., Minority Whip Alan K. Simpson, R- Wyo., and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. However, Bush's engagement policy with Beijing is perceived by many members of Congress as one of a "hands off" policy to human rights. It is felt that extending MFN to China with the knowledge of its poor performance in regards to human rights issues does not live up to U.S. law or supposed devotion to human rights issues. The main opponent of Bush's China policy on Capitol Hill is Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell, D-Maine. Senator Mitchell and other liberal democrats such as House Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, D-Mo., Representative (Rep.) Stephen J. Solarz, D-N.Y., Rep. Nancy 2Robert G. Sutter, "American Policy Toward Beijing, 1989-1990: the Role of President Bush and the White House Staff," Journal of Northeast Asian Studies Vol. IX, No. 4 (Winter 1990): 3. 3"Back From China," editorial from The Washington Post. 19 November 1991, 20 (A). 4 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Donald Pease, D-Ohio, have been frustrated with the Bush Administration's policy of engagement with the Chinese. This main group of liberal Democrats are joined by conservative Republicans Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., Sen. Malcolm Wallop, R-Wyo., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in opposing MFN. Thus, this unusual liberal democrat-conservative republican coalition have banded together to try to get

Load more