CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 615
OF 190034Z MARCH 93
CONFIDENTIAL
091/1
(46.
074442
MDHIAN 4052
pa
an MFN file pls.
HKR
09111
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG, ACTOR RECEIVED IN AGISTRY
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
23 MAN 1903
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
FCO COMCEN PLEASE PASS TO HOMS FOR SIRP RENWICK
U.S./CHINA: MFN
SUMMARY
1
.
U.S.
DEMARCHE IN PEKING EMPHASISES NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN CHINESE BEHAVIOUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS/TRADE/ARMS PROLIFERATION IN RUN UP TO THIS YEAR'S MFN DEBATE. CHINESE RESPONSE WILL BE A KEY FACTOR IN ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE MFN.
DETAIL
2. ON 18 MARCH WE DISCUSSED PROSPECTS FOR THE MFN DEBATE WITH WIEDEMANN, THE NEWLY-APPOINTED SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ASIA, NSC.
3.
Wing
WIEDEMANN SAID THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT YET FOCUSSED IN DETAIL ON THE MFN ISSUES. BUT HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA'S POOR HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE, THE GROWING U.S./CHINA TRADE DEFICIT - WHICH COST AMERICAN JOBS · AND CHINA'S ARMS PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES. THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF MFN, AND REALISED THAT, AS A WEAPON, IT COULD ONLY BE USED SPARINGLY. HE WAS ANXIOUS TO WORK WITH CONGRESS IN THE HOPE OF AVOIDING LEGISLATION. BUT IF SUCH LEGISLATION WERE PUT FORWARD IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR
HIM TO VETO.
4.
WIEDEMANN SAID THAT THE AMERICANS HAD MADE A DEMARCHE TO THE CHINESE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK EMPHASISING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT CHINESE BEHAVIOUR IN SPECIFIC AREAS (TRADE, HUMAN RIGHTS, PROLIFERATION). THEY MADE CLEAR THAT CHINA'S PERFORMANCE BETWEEN NOW AND MAY WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN INFLUENCING THE
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