China: No Free Trade Without Free Thought

Re “China: No Champagne,” editorial, July 27: Despite opposition by human rights advocates, U.S. policy since President Nixon has embraced the concept that nonconfrontational free trade will open channels of communication and lead to a gradual liberalization of the Chinese oligarchy. Billions of multinational dollars have flowed into China based on that policy, and at this point, the U.S. has far more to lose than China in any meaningful confrontation. We are in too deep, and the firms involved have the power to prevent any U.S. government policy change. The American people would also refuse to accept any inconvenience the denial of Chinese trade would cause.

Therefore, the only true option that remains is to make sure that the trade that does occur is structured in a way that will maximize our opportunity to present American-style free speech and open expression and to hope that the Chinese will adopt these concepts as their own. This will call for a coherent, deliberate American strategy. No such plan currently exists. The companies doing the trading won’t worry about advertising the benefits of freedom unless our government takes the initiative to assure that they do.

Ronald Ben Clary

Canoga Park