U.S. Official Optimistic on Improved Ties With China

BEIJING — Undersecretary of State Robert Kimmitt expressed hope today that China will respond to U.S. concerns about political repression, arms sales and trade in a positive enough way to ease bilateral tensions and preserve close economic ties.

Kimmitt, speaking with reporters after two days of talks with Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and Vice Foreign Minister Liu Huaqiu, said that progress in these areas could help continue China’s low-tariff trade status and also open the door to a visit to Beijing by Secretary of State James A. Baker III.

“We covered issues ranging from the Middle East to Cambodia to areas of particular concern in the United States--non-proliferation (of weaponry), human rights and trade,” Kimmitt said. “I think there is a basis that has been laid for progress in a number of these areas. . . . I think we should judge the results not necessarily today but in the weeks and months ahead.”

Kimmitt noted that President Bush has until June 3 to decide whether to renew China’s most-favored-nation trade status, which allows it to trade under low tariffs. If Bush grants approval, Congress then has three months during which it could block renewal.

In the past two years--since the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in June, 1989--human rights issues were the main focus of debate about renewal of China’s MFN trade status. But last year, the United States ran a $10.4-billion trade deficit with China, raising growing concern about Chinese import restrictions, failure to protect copyrighted computer software and other trade issues.

“I made clear that the decision on MFN would be made in the political context of concerns about human rights, non-proliferation and trade and that the prospects for renewal of MFN would be improved by progress in these areas,” Kimmitt said.

Kimmitt said that he also renewed U.S. calls for China to release political prisoners. “I had an opportunity to discuss individual names, lists of names . . . and categories of individuals being held against their will.”

Kimmitt said he also stressed U.S. worries about China’s sales of missiles to Middle East nations. Allegations have also been raised that Chinese nuclear technology provided to Algeria might be used for weapons production.

Kimmitt said that Beijing has agreed to receive Reginald Bartholomew, undersecretary of state for international strategic affairs, for discussions on the non-proliferation issue.