by Jimmy Carter

The New York Times - The Herald Tribune

12 August 1997

I spent the spring of 1949 in the seaports of China as a naval officer on my first submarine cruise. Nearly 30 years later, Deng Xiaoping and I normalized diplomatic relations between our countries. We knew that even with this opening, decades of patience and persistence would be required before the bonds between our greatly different countries would be firm and predictable. I consider sound Chinese-American relations, along with the importance of maintaining human rights as a foundation of foreign policy, to be legacies of my administration. The two goals are not incompatible, but can be reached only if we try to understand each other. Americans have benefited from the unprecedented stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region made possible by close ties among the United States, China and Japan. But the greatest beneficiaries have been the Chinese people, whose quality of life and human rights have improved enormously during the last two decades. China and America continue to share many interests: ma

intaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, controlling weapons of mass destruction, preventing conflict on the Korean Peninsula and fostering open trade. Many Americans and Chinese have lost sight of the original vision that brought us together. The accomplishments of a quarter century are at risk. On my latest trip to China last month, I met President Jiang Zemin, Prime Minister Li Peng, the chairman of the National People's Congress, Qiao Shi, and other leaders. They expressed concern that American leaders were encouraging Japanese rearmament and extending Japan's defense perimeter to include Taiwan. They also deeply resent American sales of F-16 jet fighters and other weaponry to Taiwan. We also discussed America's concerns, including the mounting trade deficit, human rights and particularly the treatment of the Tibetan people. Mutual criticisms are proper and necessary, but should not be offered in an arrogant or self-righteous way, and each of us should acknowledge improvements made by th

e other. Significant changes are taking place throughout China. There is no longer a single unquestioned government policy. Instead, top leaders have a wide range of opinions on such issues as the role of parliaments, expansion of the election process and privatization. An increasingly free economic system has transformed the lives of the people. Farmers now retain profits on practically all crops planted on their land, and many villagers own their own businesses. Incomes and educational opportunities have risen sharply. Although congregations must still register with the government, membership in Christian churches is booming. A 1987 law mandates elections in nearly a million villages. Citizens can choose among multiple candidates, including Communists, in a secret ballot, and many non-Communists have been chosen as village leaders. Arbitrary power is still exercised by some political leaders, but progress is being made in promoting the rule of law. Some citizens are even bringing lawsuits against governmen

t agencies that violatetheir rights. President Jiang's long-overdue state visit to Washington in October will provide an opportunity to address human rights and other issues. American criticisms of China's human rights abuses are justified, but their basis is not well understood. Westerners emphasize personal freedoms, while a stable government and a unified nation are paramount to the Chinese. The result is excessive punishment of outspoken dissidents, and unwarranted domination of Tibetans. But frank discussions on these and other issues can sometimes yield real progress. In private discussions in 1979, Deng Xiaoping agreed to address the issue of religious freedom, and great improvements were made. In 1987, after a visit I made to Tibet, and after subsequent conversations with the exiled Dalai Lama, discussions were arranged between his emissaries and Chinese government officials. Unfortunately, the Tiannamen Square tragedy aborted the initiative.

Mr. Carter, the 39th president of United States, is chairman of the npnprofit Carter Center. He contributed this comment to The New York Times.