May 31, 2001

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: TOM DONNELLY, Deputy Executive Director

SUBJECT: China

This week, the Pentagon announced the U.S. and China had agreed on terms for the return of the U.S. surveillance plane that was forced by Chinese jets to make an emergency landing on Hainan Island two months ago. Following that, George W. Bush announced he would renew China's normal tariff treatment for another year.

It appears that the president felt he could not extend China's trade privileges without gaining the return of the EP-3. Fair enough. But we wonder whether the president should have renewed NTR while American citizens and academics with ties to America remain jailed in China?

China provides little information on the whereabouts, health or charges against the Americans it detains, but they include Li Shaomin, an American professor of business in Hong Kong, and Gao Zhan, a permanent U.S. resident and researcher at American University in Washington, D.C., who have been charged with spying. Wu Jianmin, a U.S. citizen, and Qin Guangguang, a permanent resident are also being held without charge. Businessman Liu Yaping is also being held in Inner Mongolia.

There is no point in discussing the merits of China's charges; its justice system is not entitled to any deference. In China, publishing public information, mailing clips from official newspapers, and distributing e-mail addresses can lead to jail terms.

While these Americans are held in Chinese jails, there should not be any business as normal with China -- let alone the privilege of favorable tariff rates for Chinese imports to the United States. Until these Americans are home, Congress should vote to deny China NTR, the Bush Administration should make it clear that the president has no intention of going to Shanghai in October for the regional economic summit, and the U.S. should not support Beijing's bid to host the 2008 summer Olympics. The freedom of our citizens and residents from arbitrary arrest and detention should be as important as the return of a piece of military hardware.