Lloyd Bentsen

* It is interesting, and humorous, to see that Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen is becoming part of the U.S. contingent to browbeat Asian nations to open their markets more to U.S. products. He said Washington will seek “to open markets, not close ours” (Jan. 19).

This ridiculous strategy has been going on for more than 12 years, and has failed.

The answer is to close off our markets more, the same as Japan and most of the other Asian nations do. Especially in products where most of the deficit occurs, like automobiles and auto parts. This would show that our politicians really are serious, instead of just posturing.

JAMES RICE

San Clemente

* It looks like the Clinton Adminsitration is greasing the skids for renewal of the “most favored nation” trade status for China regardless of its massive human rights and trade rights abuses, including the widespread use of slave labor to produce exports to the United States (Jan. 21).

The U.S. Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy at the end of December declared that he considers it “abnormal” to link China’s trade status with its human rights abuses.

Next, the U.S. Department of State’s annual report of human rights fails to complain about the 20 million Chinese in the laogai forced labor system.

Most recently, Bentsen announced “some progress” toward making inspections of some laogai forced labor facilities. This “progress” amounted to only five sites.

With such diplomatic nonchalance, the Clinton Administration looks like it will accept tokenism instead of full compliance with human rights practices.

CARL OLSON, Chairman

State Department Watch, Northridge