CHINA WATCH : Visa Mess

China’s diplomatic game of cat and mouse is tiresome and, worse, self-defeating. In the latest slap at the United States, Beijing has refused visas to two high-ranking members of Congress who opposed unconditional most-favored-nation treatment for China.

Beijing is becoming its own worst enemy by exacerbating bad feelings in Washington. Its standing is already shaky on Capitol Hill, where recently the Senate narrowly missed placing conditions on the renewal of China’s most-favored-nation trading status.

Now China has refused the visa applications of Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman David L. Boren (D-Okla.) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.). The reason given by Beijing: The timing of their trip, which was to begin next Monday, was “not convenient.” Oh, sure.

It is extraordinary, if not unprecedented, for China to deny visas to congressional members of the stature of Pell and Boren. Both have been critical of China’s human rights record, but last year Beijing, which was then encouraging members of Congress to visit, granted visas to vocal China critic Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

So far, the State Department has not been able to persuade Beijing to grant the visas. U.S. Ambassador to China J. Stapleton Roy will press the case personally with Chinese authorities. Rejecting the visas is petty and small-minded. The action only alienates more people in Washington and sends the wrong signal. Beijing should try a little goodwill--and common sense.