FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 1999
BUCHANAN ANSWERS CLINTON ATTACK
Calls Comments
"Demagogic Attempt to Stifle Debate"
CONCORD, N.H.- Presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan today rejected
President Clinton's assertion that a "healthy argument" about our China
policy will "lead us toward a campaign-driven Cold War," calling it "a
demagogic attempt to stifle legitimate debate."
"President Clinton's claim that admitting China to the WTO is 'profoundly
in our national interests' is flat out wrong. Today's New York Times
reports that China stole American neutron bomb technology and that Mr.
Clinton and National Security Advisor Sandy Berger were fully aware of
this grave breach of our security," Mr. Buchanan said. "This latest
evidence reconfirms the proven failure of the President's 'constructive
engagement' policy, and it severely undermines the President's already
crippled credibility."
"China is not now and has never been America's 'strategic partner'," Mr.
Buchanan said. "'Constructive engagement' has been a demonstrable failure
and our commander in chief now wants to relinquish what remains of U.S.
economic leverage over China's military buildup, human rights abuses, and
threats against Taiwan."
"China's admission to the WTO should be rejected and ruled out until a
joint select committee has fully investigated security breaches at the
Departments of Commerce and Energy, and until China allows access to all
banking records and sources under subpoena in the 1996 campaign finance
investigation," Mr. Buchanan said. "It is time to determine if U.S. trade
policy and security policy have been bought and sold."
"I suggest that Mr. Clinton refrain from his belligerent bombast and join
the rest of us in an open debate about our China policy," Mr. Buchanan
said.
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