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FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2568
OF 210005Z NOVEMBER 92
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Hhis callz
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, ACTOR
(94
pls pa
108
071637
MDHIAN 8744
Mfr fle
OUR TELNO 2497: U.S./HONG KONG, CLINTON'S POLICY ON MEN
SUMMARY
1. IN AN APPARENT SOFTENING OF HIS CAMPAIGN RHETORIC ON CHINA, CLINTON PRAISES SOME ASPECTS OF BUSH'S CHINA POLICY, AND HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF NOT ISOLATING CHINA. GROWING SPECULATION THAT HE WILL TAKE A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH ON MFN THAN HIS CAMPAIGN SUGGESTED. BUT HIS FOREIGN POLICY ADVISERS TELL US THAT THERE HAS
BEEN NO REAL CHANGE.
DETAIL
2. AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON ON 19 NOVEMBER, CLINTON WAS ASKED ABOUT MFN FOR CHINA. HE REPLIED THAT HE HAD SUPPORTED SOME RESTRICTIONS ON MFN STATUS PENDING CHANGES IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRADE AREAS. BUT HE CREDITED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WITH MAKING PROGRESS IN RECENT MONTHS THROUGH A TOUGHER POLICY ON PRISON LABOUR EXPORTS AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES. HE SAID THAT CHINA HAD A BIG; STAKE IN TRADE WITH PELU.S., AND THE U.S. HAD A BIG STAKE IN NOT ISOLATING CHINA AND UN BEING THAT CHINA CONTINUED TO DEVELOP A MARKET ECONOMY. BUT QUOTE WE ALSO HAVE TO INSIST ON PROGRESS IN ̈} HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN DECENCY UNQUOTE. HE REITERATED THAT RECENT INDICATIONS SUGGESTED THAT A FIRM HAND BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT COULD HELP TO ACHIEVE THAT.
COMMENT
3.
7
CLINTON'S REMARKS HAVE BEEN PLAYED UP IN THE PRESS AS STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT FROM HIS CAMPAIGN RHETORIC WHEN HE REPEATEDLY CRITICISED PRESIDENT BUSH FOR HIS INDIFFERENCE TO DEMOCRACY AND FOR CODDLING DICTATORS IN PEKING. BUT, ACCORDING TO SODERBERG (CLINTON'S FOREIGN POLICY DIRECTOR IN LITTLE ROCK), CLINTON WAS SIMPLY RE-STATING HIS LONG-HELD VIEW THAT IF THE U.S. PUSHED CHINA HARD ENOUGH, AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DID OVER TRADE AND PRISON LABOUR, THE CHINESE WOULD ADDRESS U.S. CONCERNS. SODERBERG TOLD
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