By Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, May 21, 1995

From: World Tibet Network Weekly Digest 5/12-5/18 1995

The International affairs bills approved by key committees in the Senate and House last week contain dozens of far-reaching and

controversial provisions that would force major changes in U.S. foreign policy in many areas, especially in relations with China.

Under the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's version of the

State Department authorization bill, the President would be required to recognize Tibet as an "occupied sovereign country" and appoint an ambassador to its "legitimate" government headed by the Dalai Lama. The House International Relations Committee bill contains similar language, and both versions contain several other provisions designed as challenges to Beijing.

[...]Such efforts by the Republican-controlled foreign policy committees have horrified Clinton administration officials and State Department foreign policy professionals, who regard them as efforts by isolationists to settle old scores with the remaining communist regimes and reduce the U.S. role in the world.

[...]

Speaking of the House version, which is closer to floor action

than the Senate bill, Secretary of State Warren Christopher said

yesterday that "due to its onslaught on the president's constitutional authority to manage foreign policy, if it reaches the president's desk in its current form, I would have not choice but to recommend he veto it."

[...]

Both versions take aim at China on several front in addition

to Tibet, the mountanious country of grand vistas and soaring Buddhist temples where an uprising against Chinese rule was crushed by the Chinese army in 1959. The United States recognizes Chinese sovereignty over Tiebt, and any suggestion of U.S. support for independence would provoke outrage in Beijing. Other provisions targeted at China.

Both measures would grant political asylum to anyone subject to or fearful of involuntary sterlization or forced abortion, both of which China has been accused of using in its population control campaign.

Both versions would require President Clinton to allow the

president of Taiwan to enter the United States.

In the Senate version, the visit would occur this year and

President Li Teng-hui would be received "with all appropriate courtesies" as a head of state. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan. The Clinton administration has refused to grant a visa for fear of offending Beijing.

The Senate bill would impose fines of up to $1million fo repeat violators of a ban on importing goods made by prisoners of "forced labor," another human rights violation of which China frequently has been accused.