Congressional Statements

Pallone to introduce House Bill to impose sanctions on China for missile supplies to Pakistan

Press Release
July 11, 2000

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, announced today that he will introduce legislation in the House of Representatives to impose sanctions on China for providing ballistic missile technology to Pakistan.

In a statement in the House this evening, Pallone said he will be sponsoring a House companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senators Fred Thompson, D-TN, and Robert G. Torricelli, D-NJ.

Pallone has particularly cited the threat that the Chinese-Pakistani missile cooperation poses to India, as well as stability throughout Asia.

"While Pakistan remains subject to U.S. sanctions as a result of its nuclear explosions and last year's military coup, the Administration has been trying to influence China with its policy of 'comprehensive engagement,'" Pallone said in his speech on the House floor. "Clearly, at least in the case of Pakistan, the policy is not working. I believe it's time to get tough with Beijing.

"To that end, I am drafting legislation, similar to a bipartisan bill that has been introduced in the Senate, that would require the Administration to monitor China's record on the spread of nuclear weapons and impose automatic sanctions on companies or states if there is credible evidence of exports of missile technology.

"The legislation is moving through the Senate, and is part of the mix in the upcoming debate on extending Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to China. I believe this connection is very appropriate to make. We can't afford to completely separate our commercial and security interests."

Last week, in response to reports that China is aiding Pakistan's missile development program, Pallone wrote to President Clinton urging that the Administration immediately impose sanctions on China.

In his floor statement, Pallone said: "I was encouraged to see that the Administration dispatched a top arms control official to Beijing to address the growing concerns about China's proliferation activities. But the news out of the Chinese capital was not encouraging."

Pallone noted that John D. Holum, senior advisor to the Secretary of State on arms control, told the media that the U.S. has raised concerns that China has provided aid to Pakistan and other countries. According to an article in the Sunday, July 9, New York Times, Mr. Holum said, "We made progress, but the issue remains unresolved."

"In the polite parlance of diplomacy, that is a clear indication that this issue continues to be a serious concern," Pallone said in the House today.

Pallone noted that the Central Intelligence Agency and other U.S. intelligence agencies have reported that China has stepped up its provision of key components and technical expertise for the development of a new long-range missile that could carry nuclear weapons.

"This recent pattern of Chinese support for Pakistan's missile development program is a matter of concern for the United States, and for the long-term stability of the entire Asian continent," Pallone said. "It is also a matter of particularly urgent concern for India. China and Pakistan both consider India to be their major strategic threat, which is absurd, considering that India has been the victim of both Pakistani and Chinese aggression. But, given that shared strategic outlook on the part of China and Pakistan, it is clear that these two nations have teamed up to surround India and create an alarming potential for instability in Asia.

"I hope the Administration will give serious consideration to imposing sanctions on China. If not, there are those of us in Congress who are ready to mandate such sanctions through legislation," Pallone concluded.