Steve Forbes Issues Reaganesque Call to Help Free China

(Washington, D.C.): In a major foreign policy address delivered today at the library of
one
former President, Steve Forbes issued a call for a new approach toward China that was strongly
reminiscent of another President — Ronald Reagan — in its strategic vision, its moral compass
and confidence in the power of American ideas and leadership. In the interest of encouraging a
much-needed debate about the direction and content of U.S. policy vis a vis the PRC, the Center
urges each of Mr. Forbes’ rivals for the presidency — and candidates for other elective offices —
to make known in detail their views on his critique of the Clinton-Gore record and his
recommendations for an alterative approach.

‘No More Business as Usual: A Vision of U.S.-China Policy in the
21^st Century’

Excerpts of Remarks by

Steve Forbes

The Nixon Library, Yorbalinda, California
12 November 1999

The China Challenge

The rise of China as a new power is one of the greatest challenges we face as a nation as we
enter
the 21st century. Our failure to properly handle the rise of Germany and Japan earlier in the 20th
century cost the world and us dearly. We dare not make the same mistake with China.

* * *

Some believe that China is like Germany under the Kaiser, an incipient and implacable
enemy
with whom we are destined to clash. Others are premature optimists who see China as
predestined to evolve into a democracy.

I reject both views. Nothing is foreordained in the course of human events.

The only thing we can be sure of is that China is as unpredictable as ever. Indeed, the history
of
China is a succession of despotic dynasties punctuated by volcanic eruptions and fanatical
movements.

* * *

China has a hybrid economy, one that depends on a measure of free enterprise to sustain
shoddy,
state-run outfits and crony capitalism. Such a system can maintain its rule with force. But it can
no longer draw strength from the messianic fervor of Marx, Lenin and Mao.

Such ideological weakness – such intellectual rot – is an invitation for trouble. The
simultaneous
emergence of the Falun Gong cult on the one hand, and the explosive growth of Christianity on
the other, are clear signs that the Chinese people are casting about for a new belief system to fill
the void left by communism.

In short, China is an immensely important yet intensely unstable country.
Its government
seeks to be a global superpower while its people seek freedom and spiritual fulfillment. We must
define U.S. policy towards China and the whole of Asia accordingly.

A Decade of Drift and Indecision

The decade since the massacre at Tiananmen Square has been a decade of drift, indecision
and
plain bad judgment. The Clinton-Gore Administration clearly does not understand the realities
inside China today. It still has no compass, no guiding principles, no sense of direction.

President Clinton calls his China policy “constructive engagement.” I call it a study in
confusion
and mixed signals, often degenerating into appeasement.

In his first term, President Clinton’s approach had all the predictability of a drunk driving on
the
road. We told Beijing terrible things would happen if human rights abuses persisted – and then
backed down. We were ambiguous when China began its saber rattling with Taiwan in 1996 and
let the crisis reach a dangerous level and China began test-launching missiles. Clearly, Beijing
takes our president’s statements no more seriously than he does.

Then there is the espionage. Read the bipartisan report by California Congressman
Christopher
Cox. The evidence is overwhelming. The Clinton-Gore Administration’s national security
ineptitude allowed Beijing to steal or buy America’s most advanced thermonuclear weapons
designs, state-of-the-art ballistic missile designs, high performance American supercomputers,
and advanced satellite technology.

Then there is the subversion of our political system. The sale of political access in
Washington to
agents of Chinese intelligence has encouraged the PRC to believe they can freely ignore
American principles because, after all, we can be bought.

Then there is the systematic demobilization of our armed forces. This Administration’s
budgets
have seriously undercut our military preparedness in the Far East and done precious little to build
ballistic missile defenses for us or our allies.

In short, we have had a non-policy based on non-principles, resulting in almost eight years of
amateur-hour improvisations. If the next U.S. administration continues this drift and zigzagging,
our children and grandchildren will ultimately pay the price.

A New China Policy

It is time to set a new course for American foreign policy in Asia. We need a principled
President who will deal with China from a position of strength. We need a President willing to
say to Beijing in no uncertain terms: No more business as usual.

o No more shutting our ears to the cries of Christians, Buddhists and others suffering
religious
persecution in Chinese gulags.

o No more turning a blind eye to Chinese spies in our nuclear labs.

o No more keeping silent about Chinese slave labor camps, forced abortions and
death-factory
orphanages.

o No more doing business with Chinese military-owned companies trafficking in weapons
of
mass destruction.

o No more leaving our children and our allies vulnerable to Chinese nuclear missiles.

o And no more sweetheart trade deals.

I share the American people’s sense of frustration that our security and our values are
constantly
being trampled by Beijing, and the Clinton-Gore Administration does nothing. It is weak. It is
reactive. It is rudderless – and it is wrong.

The question is: Where do we go from here? How do we get from where we are today to
where
we want to be?

Some believe the right course of action is to immediately revoke Most Favored
Nation trade
status – a form of “shock therapy” – to force China to stop its egregious military and human rights
abuses.

And that is an entirely understandable point of view – especially given the White House’s
approach of “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” towards Beijing.

Indeed, we may very well need to revoke MFN.

But first we need a real China policy, a tough China policy.

We need Beijing to understand the rules of engagement.

And we need to begin using the economic and diplomatic tools at our disposal to effect real
change in China: tough sanctions on Chinese military-owned companies..tough sanctions on
Chinese companies using slave labor.tough sanctions on Chinese companies trafficking in
weapons of mass destruction.and continuous, high-profile condemnations of Chinese human
rights abuses in every international forum possible.

President Clinton won’t do it. Vice President Gore won’t do it. But I will.

As President of the United States, I will put China’s leaders on notice: We want a peaceful
and
constructive relationship with you. But you must understand the rules of engagement. And if you
violate them – if you continue to head down the path towards confrontation – then I will not
hesitate for one moment to revoke Most Favored Nation trade status.

I will never sacrifice American security or values on the altar of trade.

The choice is up to you. The benefits of cooperation and friendship are enormous. But the
days
of appeasement are over. Period.

It is time we put dictators and despots on notice: We will not be intimidated and we will not
be
threatened. We will protect our childrendefend our friends.advance our principlesand
transcend our enemies.

My new China policy will be based upon three strategic objectives:

o First, we will protect American sovereignty and security.

o Second, we will promote individual liberty and human rights.

o Third, we will open new markets and expand existing markets, but never at the expense of
our
security and principles.

U.S. Security and Sovereignty

In a Forbes Administration, American sovereignty and national security will come first. That
means defending our vital national security interests, which include the following:

o Protecting the American homeland, borders, shores and airspace

o Protecting Americans against threats to their lives and well-being

o Preventing a major power from dominating Europe, East Asia or the Persian Gulf

o Preventing hostile interference in the Western Hemisphere by outside powers

o Maintaining the freedom of the seas and maintaining access to vital natural resources.

America must be absolutely committed to remain the premier military power in the Pacific.

The Forbes Administration will rebuild – not run down – our national defenses.

We will strengthen our alliances with key countries in the region to
counterbalance the Chinese
threat.

We will make it clear that we will defend Taiwan from a Chinese attack. As
President, I will
sign the bipartisan “Taiwan Security Enhancement Act” offered by Senator Jesse
Helms and
Senator Robert Torricelli. This will lift restrictions on the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan,
including missile defense systems.

We will also deploy state-of-the-art missile defense systems – such as the sea-based Aegis
system
– to protect our allies and ourselves.

Indeed, we must dramatically step up our research and development to reopen the technology
gap
and pull away from our adversaries.

When a Chinese general made a not-so-veiled threat to “nuke” Los Angeles over the Taiwan
crisis several years ago, he made one thing abundantly clear: We must not allow China’s
growing nuclear arsenal to continue to threaten American cities and decouple the United
States from our allies.

After all, if America were to leave the Western Pacific, Japan, South Korea, and perhaps
other
powers would have no choice but to rearm, and develop and deploy nuclear weapons of their
own. China must understand the security umbrella America provides in the Pacific promotes
stability and serves the long-term interests of all powers.

At the same time, we must be on the lookout for a continuing Chinese effort to compromise
our
security elsewhere in the world.

The Panama Canal is a good place to start. Having Chinese companies managing both ends
of
this strategic chokepoint between the Atlantic and the Pacific is simply unacceptable to
American security. In the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine, the Forbes Administration will prevent
the hostile interference in the Western Hemisphere by outside powers such as Communist China.

So this is the first strategic objective of the Forbes policy towards China – protecting
American
sovereignty and national security.

Individual Liberty and Human Rights

The second strategic objective of my China policy will be to vigorously and
consistently
champion individual liberty and human rights.

Like all people of goodwill, I hope for a future China that is free and democratic, and I will
do
everything in my power to see that this vision comes to pass. That certainly means making sure
China understands the rules of engagement. But it also means confronting Chinese human rights
abuses.

* * *

Fortunately, Congress has begun to move in the right direction. For example, China’s slave
labor
camps operate 140 export enterprises, selling products to over 70 countries, including the U.S.
But in 1997, Congressman Chris Smith, from my home state of New Jersey, introduced a bill to
keep China’s slave labor products out of our country. I supported this bill at the time, and as
President, I will vigorously enforce it and fight slave labor practices in China and throughout the
world.

At the same time, the Forbes Administration will take the lead in forcefully denouncing
Chinese
human rights abuses.

And we will stand up for the inalienable rights of all people to free speech, free assembly and
freedom of religion.

The more we expose their abuses, the more Beijing will protest with angry words and threats.
But we know one thing from our experience with the Soviets: Pressure will yield results. The
process of freedom, once begun, sustains itself internally and spreads.

At the same time, we will seek ways to engage the Chinese people, to meet their yearning for
truth, faith, and higher ideals. For a half-century, Chinese leaders have preached a lifeless,
soulless marriage of materialism and state control. It has created a spiritual vacuum, longing to
be filled.

* * *

Now is not the time to turn our backs on the good people of China, one out of
five people living
on the planet today.

Nor is this the time to maintain business as usual.

Now is the time to intensify our efforts to communicate the good news of
freedom and faith in
God to a people living in great darkness.

From my years as chairman of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, I know that the free
flow of
truth is deadly to dictatorial regimes.

So central to my strategy will be dramatically expanding Radio Free Asia,
which should have
more frequencies, more programming and more power to send its signals so that hundreds of
millions of people can hear its broadcasts.

And in this new Information Age, we will also launch Internet Free China.
We will create
news and informational web sites in Mandarin, Cantonese and other dialects. We will use cutting
edge technology to reach out to the Chinese people, because the Internet is the new frontier of
freedom and democracy in the digital age.

My friends, freedom works. And we must never give up our efforts to communicate the truth,
particularly in China.

Open Markets

Along with protecting American sovereignty and security, and advancing individual liberty
and
human rights, the Forbes Administration will pursue a third objective: opening new markets and
expanding existing markets throughout Asia.

Again, I want China to choose a path of peace and cooperation. I want them to open their
markets and sign honest, enforceable, free trade agreements with us. This would be a huge boon
for American workers, companies and farmers.

And it is true the our ultimate hope for a fruitful, peaceful relationship with the Middle
Kingdom
lies in the rise of pro-freedom, pro-free enterprise forces within it. As we have seen in Chile,
South Korea and Taiwan, economic liberalization can bring in its wake demands for political
reform.

But U.S. security and our vital national interests must always come first.

For example, China’s People’s Liberation Army controls some 15,000 companies with an
estimated $10 billion in worldwide sales. Many of these companies operate here in the United
States.

But if Beijing continues selling dangerous military equipment to rogue states such as North
Korea and Iran, I will apply tough sanctions on one PLA company after another.

If the offenses don’t stop, I will up the ante.

The Clinton-Gore Administration has turned a blind eye to such dangerous arms sales; I will
not.
Too much is at stake.

At the same time, the Forbes Administration will also put an immediate halt to sales of
sophisticated technology to China that can clearly be used for military purposes.

Now let me say a word here about the World Trade Organization.

The Clinton-Gore Administration wants to give China a sweetheart deal, allowing Beijing
into
the WTO on concessionary terms, as though they were some third-world nation rather than a
major economic player. This is a serious mistake.

America is the world’s only economic superpower, and it’s ridiculous to take such a weak
position with an emerging power.

That said, I believe Taiwan should be permitted entrance into the
community of world
commerce.

They have made extraordinary progress in moving towards free markets and free elections
and
they should be rewarded for it.

Let me be clear: Yes to Taiwan in the WTO. No to China. Beijing hasn’t earned it,
and we
shouldn’t give it. Period.

It is time for our government to reward freedom and democracy – not force and demagoguery
–
and let us never forget it.

Benchmarks For Progress

As President I will make clear to China the rules of engagement.

I will also set clear benchmarks to gauge China’s seriousness about a positive relationship
with
the United States.

For example:

The People’s Republic of China must resume diplomatic discussions with Taiwan
and
moderate its threatening language. Taiwan is a new democracy that has emerged from
authoritarian rule. If we are true to ourselves, we must acknowledge that Taiwan deserves the
respect and support of the West in the face of Beijing’s coarse, warlike threats, and bellicose
deeds – and we must pressure Beijing to cease and desist immediately.

China must stop selling weapons of mass destruction to rogue nations.
The proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction – and the means to deliver them – is one of the greatest threats to
peace and security in our time. We must do everything in our power to halt this deadly trade.

China must drop its opposition to countries deploying ballistic missile defense
systems since
they pose no threat to China. Beijing’s hyperbole over American, Japanese and
Taiwanese
missile defenses – and the ABM Treaty – is not helpful. China has nothing to fear – and
everything to gain – from purely defensive technologies.

China must stop religious persecution and immediately begin releasing political and
religious prisoners, such as those identified by Freedom House. The thirst for
individual liberty,
human dignity and spiritual growth is unquenchable, and the United States will never abandon
those for whom it is being denied. Indeed, it will be the explicit policy of the Forbes
Administration to champion a free and democratic China in every manner possible.

The Road Ahead

I know my policy will sound confrontational to official Chinese ears. In truth it is less
confrontational and less dangerous than hiding our convictions and commitments behind a fog of
appeasing rhetoric.

* * *

I am advocating the peaceful application of the same universal principles that Ronald Reagan
applied to the peoples of the former Soviet Union. At the beginning of his presidency, Reagan
told the British Parliament and the world that Soviet communism would be consigned to the ash
heap of history. No one believed him. In 1982, such a prediction sounded preposterous to the
ears of most Western intellectuals and bellicose to the Soviets. But Reagan knew that such a
thing could come to pass-and quicker than most of us thought-because a process of
change was at
work within the Soviet Union.

Reagan wasn’t being hostile. Far from it. His compassion and respect for the people of
Russia
was so great that he believed the day would soon come when they would throw off their shackles
and be free.

Today, I hold the same hope for the people of China. I believe that in my children’s lifetime,
they
will see a free, democratic, peaceful and prosperous China. Not because it is destined
to happen,
but because we helped make it happen.