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democracy, the solitary young man staring down a tank, or the students raising a model of our Statue of Liberty in Tiananmen Square. Neither will we ever forget the horror of seeing hundreds of innocent people mowed down for their belief in freedom. But instead of allying himself with the democratic movement in China, Mr. Bush sent secret emissaries to raise a
toast to those who crushed it.
The stakes in China's future are very high, for the course taken by that great nation will help shape the future of Asia and the world. Three years after the Tiananmen Square tragedy, the tremors of change continue tc shake China. We do not want China to fall apart, to descend into chaos, or to go back into isolation, but rather we want to use our relationship and influence to work with the Chinese for a peaceful transition to democracy and the spread of free markets. Today, however, we must ask ourselves, what has the President's China policy really achieved?
The Chinese leadership still sells missiles and nuclear technology to Middle Eastern dictators who threaten us and our friends. They still arrest and hold in prisons leaders of the pro-democracy movement. They restrict American access to their markets while our trade deficit with China will reach $15 billion this year. The Chinese now have the second- biggest trade surplus of any nation in the world.
Just a few days ago, President Bush vetoed legislation passed with bipartisan congressional majorities that would have placed conditions on Most Favored Nation trade status for China's state-owned enterprises. And just today, the Senate failed by a vote of 59 to 40 to override that veto. But 59 Senators, Republicans and Democrats, believe that we have a right to ask a country that has a $15 billion trade surplus with us not only not to export goods made with prison labor, but to observe basic human rights while building market strength. (Applause)
I will say again, I do not want to isolate China. There is much to admire in the phenomenal progress that has been made there, but I do believe our nation has a higher purpose than to coddle dictators and stand aside from the global movement toward democracy. The greatest strength
count on in today's world is not our personal relationships with foreign leaders. Individual leaders come and go, even in the United States, I hope. (Applause)
It is the powerful appeal of our democratic values and our enduring political institutions to people around the world that make us special. That does not mean we can embark on reckless crusades that we can force every ideal, including the promotion of democracy on other people. actions must be tempered with prudence and common sense. We know that ballot boxes alone do not solve every world problem, and that some countries and cultures are many steps away from democratic institutions. We know there maybe times when other security needs or economic interests, even in the aftermath of the bipolar Cold War World will diverge from our commitment to democracy and human rights. We know we cannot support every group's hopes for self determination. We know that the dissolution of old
and repressive empires will often be complex and contentious.
Moreover, we know there will always be those in the world who pursue their goals through force and violence. But they should know that a
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