1997 Keeper of the Flame Award: Christopher Cox

As Chinese president Jiang Zemin began the Washington portion of his state visit to the United states this week, Representative Christopher Cox (R-CA) made a major address denouncing President Clinton’s “morally and strategically ambiguous” policies toward the Peoples’ Republic of China and urging, in its stead, the adoption of a “Policy for Freedom” in China. Rep. Cox’s 28 October critique and recommendations take on particular significance insofar as they are about to become the focus of national decision-making. Next Wednesday, the House of Representatives has scheduled an extraordinary 12-hour debate to act on nine pieces of legislation developed at the initiative of the Congressman and the House Republican Policy Committee, which he chairs.

Taken together with two other bills already adopted by the House, this “Policy for Freedom” in China would be, in Rep. Cox’s words:

“…Tailored to the particular subject matter: enforcing the ban on importation of products manufactured with slave labor; demonstrating our commitment to religious freedom; expanding Radio Free Asia; denying normal commercial status to the Communist Chinese military; reporting to Congress on Communist Chinese espionage and active measures in the United States; enforcing the Gore-McCain Act requiring sanctions for China’s sale of advanced anti-ship cruise missiles to Iran; assisting Taiwan with defense against China’s missile attacks; and so on. Yet, despite the breadth of this legislation’s coverage, the well-known and well-worn vehicle of Most Favored Nation status is nowhere to be found in this debate. It is possible to pursue a Policy for Freedom that works.”

In compelling remarks before more than 300 Members of Congress, diplomats, senior military officers, former government officials and influential members of the Washington policy community, Rep. Cox called on this country’s foreign policy leadership to reassert the fundamental beliefs which guided America through the darkest days of the Cold War: the paramount importance of freedom, and the power of a peace-through-strength security posture to protect it. Instead, Congressman Cox observes, “with a silence as eloquent as President Reagan’s international appeals for freedom that helped topple the Soviet Empire, the Clinton Administration has forsworn a policy of anti-Communism.”

The occasion for Congressman Cox’s address was his acceptance of the Center for Security Policy’s 1997 “Keeper of the Flame” Award at the ANA Hotel in Washington, D.C. Previous honorees include: former President Ronald Reagan (1995), Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (1996), Senator Jon Kyl (1994), Malcolm S. “Steve” Forbes (1993) and former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger (1990). Rep. Cox was introduced by Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) and received the Keeper of the Flame Award from Mrs. Sophia Casey, widow of the former Director of Central Intelligence William J. Casey. Inspiring closing remarks were offered by Senator Kyl.