Clinton Administration’s China Policies

Re “China Emerges as Clinton’s Knottiest Foreign Problem,” Sept. 8: When will America ever learn? The Chinese learned long ago in their history that they can play the role of the immovable stone to get their way. China’s opponents eventually bend to its will, like water flowing around a stone that will not be budged. With 1.2 billion people, a vast land area, an abundance of natural resources and an enormous and desirable consumer market, China is in no hurry.

U.S. administrations and their policymaking apparatus (which are often subject to and dependent upon fluid domestic politics) change too frequently to present a formidable force against the stone that is China. Only U.S. corporations can muster the sustained presence, determination and force to compel the Chinese to move. But, unfortunately, corporate interest revolves around one thing--money. Human rights, quality of life, the environment and a whole host of other issues that affect the people of China are not of concern to corporations, which just seek to get rich through the exploitation of a market.

JEFF SOFTLEY

Los Angeles

*

* As an American, I am not proud of our secretary of state’s arrogance in suggesting to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the administration try to overthrow or undermine the Chinese government. The two main problems in both the United States and China have something to do with economics and population; e.g., the U.S. is the world’s largest debtor and a world leader in teenage pregnancy rates. Clearly, China is handling both economic and overpopulation problems better than we are. China’s human rights violations are serious but so was our treatment of Indians. We have much to learn from China.

We need a secretary of state who can apologize to China, a president who can convince China that we never really sought to overthrow the government and newspapers that do not publish testimony which never should have been made public in the first place.

WILLIAM H. RASER

Los Angeles

*

* There are at least 1.2 billion reasons why China enjoys most-favored-nation status while Cuba suffers an embargo . . . and they are all potential customers!

TIM CARMICHAEL

Santa Monica