Urging Introduction of Resolution Calling on China to End It's Human Rights Violations

URGING INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION CALLING ON CHINA TO END ITS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS -- (House of Representatives - March 02, 2004)

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 530) urging the appropriate representative of the United States to the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to introduce a resolution calling upon the Government of the People's Republic of China to end its human rights violations in China, and for other purposes, as amended.

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and before addressing the substance of the resolution I would like to thank its author, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). He has been a leader on human rights issues, particularly as they relate to China.

This resolution calls upon the administration to offer a resolution on China's human rights record at the upcoming meeting of the Human Rights Convention in Geneva. Given the human rights situation in China, it is imperative that the United States take a leadership role in galvanizing the world community to hold China accountable for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

Last year the administration did not offer a China resolution at the Human Rights Commission, which has been only the third time since 1989 that the United States had given China a pass on human rights. In announcing its decision, the administration asserted that China had made progress on human rights and religious freedoms. Madam Speaker, this was a profound mistake.

China took America's unwillingness to lead the charge in Geneva as a sign of weakness, as a statement that China human rights issues had faded from the consciousness of the American public policymakers. Not surprisingly, human rights situations in China grew worse over the past year, not improved. Dissidents jailed remained behind bars; and incredibly, even some protesters from the 1989 Tiananmen demonstrations continue to be imprisoned. Chinese authorities have arrested average citizens who download or post politically sensitive materials on the Internet and have moved to place greater restrictions on Internet access.

The Chinese government also continues its brutal crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement and unregistered Christian churches. According to the State Department's 2003 Human Rights Report, China continues to deny internationally recognized labor rights, the rights of workers to organize. In addition, forced labor prisons remain a serious concern and a problem.

Labor leaders in northeastern China fighting for the rights of unemployed workers from state-owned enterprises were tried and sentenced to long jail terms for their advocacy. Furthermore, China has not adopted a comprehensive policy to combat child labor. In urban areas children often work as street laborers. The State Department notes that children work in coal mines which often operate far from urban centers out of the view of law enforcement officials. This unacceptable policy puts the health and safety of children at risk. It is time for China to address this issue for once and all.

Finally, this resolution will send a strong message to China that the imprisonment of Tibetan political prisoners is unacceptable. The release of one of Tibet's most prominent political prisoners and the longest serving female political prisoner was a positive step, but it is not sufficient. Hundreds of Tibetans remain imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs, detainees are regularly tortured and exiled Tibetans have only limited access to their country. We must continue to put pressure on China to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people.

In short, Madam Speaker, the decision last year to treat China with kid gloves produced a backsliding on human rights, not progress. I hope the administration does not make this mistake again. True political change and representative government will eventually come to China. But, unfortunately, we cannot know whether it will take 5 years or 25 years. But regardless of how long it takes, leaders of a new democratic China must believe that the United States stood with them in their time of darkness. An American-sponsored resolution in Geneva exposing China's poor human rights record accomplishes this vital task. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.