China

The resumption of work on the $500-million arms sales program between the U.S. and China (Part A, Oct. 27) is quite disappointing. As noted in your editorial (“Backsliding on China,” Oct. 29), it appears that the Bush Administration is actively seeking to return to a pre-Tian An Men Square relationship with Beijing.

Additional evidence of the Administration’s effort is private citizen Richard Nixon’s visit to China, with its decidedly public policy purpose: to advise Beijing how to bring itself back into the good graces of the civilized world. Nixon reportedly spoke frankly about the impact of the Tian An Men Square massacre and Beijing’s need to rule with humanity. But his words can have no value when the United States is already back into a business relationship with China, without any commitment from that government, at a minimum, to end its persecution of the students who were involved in the pro-democracy movement.

The Administration should be demanding, as well, respect for the human rights of the people of Tibet, where martial law has been in effect for three months longer than in Beijing, with no end in sight. Bush has apparently paid lip service to human rights through Nixon, but he has failed to use any leverage he has in Beijing on behalf of those seeking freedom.

Fortunately for the Chinese students and the Tibetan people, Congress is not ready to roll over and, hopefully, is ready to do the right thing: Sanction China until its government changes its position on human rights. Major power though China is, that power is at present unbridled by law or conscience. Supplied with arms sold by the United States, China becomes a major threat. Our government must do what it can to influence the course of history while there is still time.

JEAN PAONE

Co-Director

US Tibet Committee

Los Angeles Regional Office