National Security Assessment: P.N.T.R. for China Will Be Bad for America

(Washington, D.C.): A growing number of national veterans groups and service organizations have announced their opposition to granting the People’s Republic of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), which is expected to be voted on next week, on national security grounds. Disputing Secretary of Defense William Cohen’s recent assertions that rejection of PNTR with China would have serious strategic repercussions on the United States and Asia, these organizations have made clear that increasingly aggressive Chinese behavior should not be rewarded by removing the annual review of China’s trading status.

Included among these eight groups¹ is the nation’s largest veterans organization, the American Legion. In a press release issued on 10 May, the Legion’s National Commander, A.L. Lance, said the following:

The American Legion sets forth the prerequisite for peace and stability, without which Communist China will become economically and militarily more formidable even as it embarks on policies pursuant to regional instability. A something-for- nothing trade arrangement with China — one that severs trade from national security and human rights — threatens stability, rewards antagonism, and strengthens a potential foe of American sons and daughters in the armed forces.

The following are highlights of letters written in recent days by several of the Nation’s foremost military organizations. Six were addressed to one of the House of Representative’s preeminent champions of human rights, religious freedom and national security — and one of that chamber’s leading opponents of PNTR — Rep. Frank Wolf (R- VA); the seventh was sent to another of the House’s leaders in these areas, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ):

• “The Reserve Officers Association believes that it would be a mistake to grant PNTR to China at this time. The annual process of reviewing trade relations with China provides Congress with leverage over Chinese behavior on national security and human rights matters. Granting PNTR would deprive Congress of the opportunity to influence China to improve its human rights record and behave as a more responsible actor on the national security stage. Just within the past few weeks, China has made military threats against Taiwan and threatened military action against the United States if we defend Taiwan….Additionally, Beijing has exported weapons of mass destruction to Iran and North Korea, in violation of treaty commitments.” (Jayson Spiegel, Executive Direct, Reserve Officers Association of the United States, 27 April 2000)
• “I write to express support and appreciation of…actions [taken by Rep. Wolf] in opposing Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China….China has done little to deserve such consideration….Indeed, China appears to be striving to achieve not only economic dominance of the Pacific Rim but also a significant military advantage over her neighbors, and quite possibly, the United States.” (Raymond A. Bell, Executive Director, Warrant Officers Association, 9 May 2000).
• “[T]he Fleet Reserve Association, representing 151,000 members…joins you and your colleagues in opposing [PNTR] for China. FRA shares your concerns that weapons of mass destruction exported by that country can be used against U.S. military personnel, and our Nation’s citizens.” (Charles L. Calkins, National Executive Secretary, Fleet Reserve Association, 21 April 2000 to Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)).
• “As a resource to the U.S. Military, our membership is concerned with our relationship with China. Decisions made today will be affecting the political-military balance in the Pacific for the next 50 years. The People’s Republic of China may well be a rival. Building its economy on the backs of its people, China is also willing to risk world stability….As a nation, we should continue to expand the marketplace, but not carte blanche. Now is not the time to offer [PNTR] for China.” (Marshall Hanson, Director of Legislation, Naval Reserve Association and Dennis F. Pierman, Executive Director, Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, 9 May 2000).

The Bottom Line

These and other national security arguments against PNTR for China are only reinforced by economic and geopolitical considerations. The latter were lucidly laid out in today’s New York Times in the attached, highly complementary op.ed. article and column, written respectively by Alan Tonelson, Research Fellow at the U.S. Business and Industrial Council, and syndicated columnist William Safire.

¹The groups as of 18 May are the American Legion, the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, the Warrant Officers Association, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS, the Naval Reserve Association and the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association.