CONGRESSMAN DUNCAN HUNTER Proudly Serving the 52nd District of California

www.house.gov/hunter

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-52) held a press conference today to discuss the national security implications of granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to the Communist regime in China.  China's trade status with the U.S. is currently debated and voted on annually by Congress, thus allowing congressional review and comment on China's activities regarding unfair trade practices, human rights and national security.  Granting PNTR to China will remove this annual review and has been a major policy initiative of the Clinton Administration who advocates making China a "strategic partner" in global trade.

    "Regardless of the administration's trade objectives, the reality is that China prepares for war," stated Hunter.  "The Communist regime is producing long-range ballistic missiles, which are targeted at U.S. military bases and American cities.  They have engaged in espionage activities in which U.S. military secrets were stolen and they have developed weapon systems that threaten the U.S. and its allies.  Granting PNTR to China allows the Communist leadership to continue their military modernization efforts at the expense of America's national security."

    Congressman Hunter presented unclassified reports from the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation describing China's weapon proliferation activities and their efforts to gather science and technology information to perform political, military, and economic espionage.  The technology China has acquired has not only been utilized to bolster its own military capabilities, but has been sold to several countries with proliferation concerns, such as Iran and Pakistan.

    "Granting PNTR to China, and removing congressional review of the Communist regime's activities despite their aggressive behavior towards the U.S. and its allies, can only be characterized as irresponsible and stands in direct conflict to efforts to protect our nation," said Hunter.

    Several Members of Congress joined Congressman Hunter at the press conference, including Representatives Joe Barton-TX, Frank Wolf-VA, John Hostettler-IN, Joel Hefley-CO, Bob Ney-OH, Charlie Norwood-GA, Dana Rohrabacher-CA, Neil Abercrombie-HI, and Roscoe Bartlett-MD.  The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on granting PNTR to China near the end of May.