Committee Of 100 Members Advise The White House On Trip To China

July 2, 1998

Summary
One week before President Clinton departed for China, the Committee of 100 was invited to the White House for a briefing and exchange of views. Representatives of the Committee met with Sandy Berger, Jeff Bader and Doris Matsui for more than one and one half hour to discuss the forthcoming trip. The Committee took the opportunity to congratulate the President on taking this trip and suggested that "seeking common grounds while respecting differences" would be the best approach.

It is no coincidence that the Committee made this proposal since it is the theme of the background paper prepared by the Committee on the essentials of a winning China policy for the Clinton Administration. The Committee is the only Asian American group invited by the White House for consultation.

Published in Asian Week
Though his trip to China had been billed as politically perilous, President Clinton appears to be winning points-both at home and abroad abroad. Clinton said the government and the people of China "have been very open" and that cooperation is the best way to manage differences. "So I think the American people will see when I go home that this was a good thing that I came here."

During his visit, the U.S. president racked up points on issues from human rights to financial stability to arms. He also got lots of great photo opportunities as he, wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea visited the imperial courtyards of Beijing's Forbidden City and toured the Great Wall north of the capital.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government said Clinton's visit "achieved full success." Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Gunqiang pointed to a string of agreements between Clinton and President Jiang Zemin, from an accord not to aim missiles at each other's country to cooperation on environmental protection and legal reforms.

Like many overseas Chinese, Chinese Americans in the Bay Area seemed largely optimistic. Francisco Hsieh, owner of China-town Restaurant in San Francisco and a longtime community activist, echoed a common sentiment as he said, "I think Clinton's visit is very good for China and very good for Clinton." He praised the U.S. president for taking "the opportunity to have direct contact with the Chinese people and the government Jiang Zemin gets to know what kind of person Clinton is. It is most important that these two top leaders can communicate with each other and not go through anyone else. If they don't go through anyone, they can solve the problems."

George Koo, who with other Chinese Americans met with a high-ranking administration official before the president's trip, also seemed pleased. "Bill Clinton has successfully fulfilled the role of a statesman despite his handicap-the critics at home and some in Congress who were clearly trying to undermine his trip."

Koo and the others spoke with National Security Adviser Sandy Berger before the trip on behalf of the Committee of 100, a prominent group of Chinese Americans that urged that Clinton take a moderate stance. Like others in his group, Koo believes Clinton's trip signals the beginning of a closer relations, explaining, "the American public finally has the chance to see what the real China is like, instead of getting their information from many politicians who go out of their way to distance the relationship."

In Shanghai this week, Clinton said change propelling the booming economy in that city can spread prosperity throughout China. "Everyone understands there is a new China emerging in the world that is more prosperous more open and more dynamic, " the president said in a joint appearance with his wife. His words on the economy seemed well received. One of Clinton's many triumphs was a seeming success in persuading China not to devalue its currency, the yuan, at least for the short term.

Still, Americans and Chinese largely agree that U.S.-style democracy remains a distant or even implausible possibility. Berger, the adviser who met with the Committee of 100 delegation, admitted that a democratic China "maybe a ways off." He told NBC's Meet the Press that personal freedoms-to choose a job or a school-have increased dramatically in recent years, but "When it comes to public expression, public dissent, this is still quite a repressive government."

He added, however, that the impact of Clinton and Jiang's Saturday discussion of human rights, carried live on Chinese television, was rather stunning." In a 10-minute news conference broadcast into millions of Chinese homes, Clinton and Jiang debated the Tiananmen Square crack- down of nine years ago, other human rights issues And China's wish to enter the World Trade Organization. Clinton specifically said he and Jiang disagreed over the brutal use of force at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Still, the exchange netted no immediate breakthrough on American human rights complaints including authoritarian Chinese control over Tibet. The debate "represented a rehashing of old promises not kept," complained Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who represents part of San Francisco. Other observers disagreed. Said Koo: "President Clinton has successfully conveyed the message of what the American attitude of human rights is." He added that the frank discussion between the two leaders show that the Chinese government no longer feels threatened by different points of view "Jiang is making history here," he said,

In a Peking University speech, Clinton counseled that human rights are "the birthrights of people everywhere." But students seemed to agree with Koo's group that China cannot be expected to change in the same ways that the United States might. Sophomore Zhang Yun said Clinton's arguments about human rights "do not suit conditions in today's China. His understanding of China is not very deep or complete ... [and] China is putting a lot of hard work into resolving its own problems."

Clinton took a more low-key approach when it came to discussing Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province. Adhering to finely worded diplomatic language that broke no new ground, Clinton said Sunday: "We don't support independence for Taiwan, or two Chinas. And we don't believe that Taiwan should be a member in any organization for which statehood is a requirement."

Taiwan's supporters in the Bay Area seemed largely unfazed. "There is nothing to be nervous about," said Benjamin Lo, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco. "We trust the American government to stick to its commitment to Taiwan. We trust the world, We trust our ability to be a member of the international cornmunity. " He added, "We have no objection to any further relations between the United States and mainland China provided it is not done at the expense of U.S. relations with Taiwan."

Like Lo, Koo said he believes Taiwan's anxieties are unwarranted. "Taiwan has no cause for alarm," he said. "I support the doctrine that the two sides must resolve their differences peacefully through negotiations without outside intervention. They are capable of that as long as there is no interference. Sooner or later, China and Taiwan will reach some kind of agreement."

Some Chinese Americans say the trip could change the balance of power among the three governments for the better. Said Hsieh: "The trip is good for Taiwan. Taiwan has to start to look for another way on go. Otherwise, they will always depend on the U.S. Maybe the U.S. will become closer, but it makes the leaders of Taiwan think of new way of doing things, instead of just depending on U.S. support. It makes the Taiwan leaders look for ways to change their policy."

Clinton's journey also brought the issue of Tibet to the forefront, Berger said Clinton and Jiang privately talked at length about that and the desirability of a dialogue between the exiled Dalai Lama and Chinese authorities. And on Saturday, Jiang publicly raised that possibility. Berger said such talks were "something we are going to continue to pursue. We have a very strong belief that the distinct identity and cultural uniqueness should be preserved and that the Dalai Lama has a particular role as a religious leader in Tibet that ought to he recognized."

Koo also sees the Tibet discussions in a positive light. Jiang Zernin and Clinton gave public comment on this; Dalai responded positively. "This may be the opening of the door that will lead to reconciliation." Like Koo, Hsieh wants to see peace between Tibet and China. However, be added that "definitely, Tibet belongs to China." "Every Chinese thinks Tibet belongs to China. They should let Clinton know. Maybe California leaders don't agree with Clinton, but it's still part of the U.S. We wouldn't want the land split. People have different thinking, but we can work it out."

Clinton also tackled the issue of religious freedom, which has played a key role in conflicts in Tibet and in China. Though the government allows the practice of religion, it imposes much more control than do most Western societies. Groups that express allegiance to foreign organizations, such as the Vatican or preach a political message face suppression.

Speaking after a sermon about unity at the government-controlled Chongwenmen Church, Beijing's largest Protestant congregation, Clinton said, "I believe our faith calls upon us to seek unity with people across the world, of different races and background and creeds." But in Shanghai, Bishop Jin Luxian said religious leaders should cooperate more with the government rather than challenge its control of churches. "I believe, Mr. President, you are here to have more dialogue with us, with the Chinese government-not to contend with us," said Jin, who belongs to an officially recognized Catholic church.

However, it is undeniable that many Chinese continue to be oppressed. As Xiao Qiang, executive director of Human Rights in China, told a House subcommittee recently: "Whether civil and political - or social or economic-fundamental rights continue to be systematically violated in China today." Just before Clinton's trip, the Chinese government rescinded visas for three journalists from Radio Free Asia, whose broadcasts it regularly blocks. And dissident Bao Tong jailed during the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, told the Los Angeles Times that he was warned not to speak to foreign journalists in Beijing during President Clinton's visit.

Still, even those who have been sharply critical of Clinton's policy offered some praise for the president's performance. "The president has to do some thing along these lines," Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., said of Clinton's comments on human rights during a Sunday TV show. "I was glad to see him do that. He needed to do that, it frankly was the least he could do under the circumstances."

Thc- Associated Press and Joyce Nishioka contributed to this report