RESTRICTED
Muz
RECE
RESTRICTED
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO
1865
OF 11225OZ JULY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING
US/CHINA: MFN
73
1991
179
062734 MDHIAN 5179
TOP COPY Q DIST?
Ready twow fler
Then Top Copy.
De 19/7.
Д
65
عالم
or Stove HICI
As
SUMMARY
1. AS EXPECTED, HOUSE VOTES TO ATTACH CONDITIONS TO MFN RENEWAL IN 1992. FOCUS NOW ON THE SENATE. CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM AMONG ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTERS THAT IN THE END A PRESIDENTIAL VETO WILL BE SUSTAINED, BUT STATE EMPHASISE THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.
DETAIL
2.
ON 10 JULY, THE HOUSE VOTED ON TWO MEASURES CONCERNING MEN FOR CHINA. THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS APPROVAL (BY 313-112) OF A
BILL TO RENEW MFN FOR ONE YEAR BUT TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON RENEWAL IN 1992. THE BILL (ESSENTIALLY THE PELOSI BILL) WOULD REQUIRE THAT BEFORE RENEWAL IN 1992, THE PRESIDENT MUST CERTIFY THAT CHINA HAD MET A VARIETY OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ARMS PROLIFERATION CONCERNS. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE TO REPORT THAT THE CHINESE HAD ACCOUNTED FOR AND RELEASED THOSE IMPRISONED AFTER TIANANMEN, THEY DID NOT SUPPORT FORCED ABORTION OR STERILISATION,
THEY HAD PROVIDED ASSURANCES THAT THEY WERE NOT ASSISTING OTHER
STATES TO ACQUIRE NUCLEAR DEVICES OR MISSILES CAPABLE OF DELIVERING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, HAD TAKEN STEPS TO PREVENT EXPORTS OF PRODUCTS MADE BY FORCED LABOUR, HAD CHANGED THEIR POSITION ON TAIWAN'S ACCESSION TO GATT, WERE RESPECTING
THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG, AND THAT THEY HAD MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON A LONG LIST OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS, INCLUDING ENDING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION, REMOVING RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, ENDING INTIMIDATION HARASSMENT OF CHINESE CITIZENS IN THE US ETC.
3.
THE HOUSE ALSO ADOPTED A MEASURE THAT WOULD CANCEL MFN IMMEDIATELY. BUT THE SIZE OF THE VOTE (223-204) SHOWED THAT THIS WOULD STAND NO CHANCE OF SURVIVING A PRESIDENTIAL VETO.
COMMENT
4.
IT WAS ALWAYS EXPECTED THAT THE CONDITIONALITY BILL WOULD
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