Published by: World Tibet Network News Thursday, November 6, 1997

By Laura Myers

Associated Press Writer

Thursday, November 6, 1997; 7:05 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to bar Chinese officials from the United States,accusing them of "the worst human rights abuses in the world."

Employing heated rhetoric and comparing communist China to the Nazi regime, lawmakers forcefully rejected President Clinton's efforts to work closer with Beijing to promote greater freedom through greater contact.

"It is absurd and nonsensical to argue that these brutal thugs will change their ways if they simply come to the United States and enjoy some Chablis and California cuisine with the people here," declared Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. "We don't want the Adolf Eichmanns of this generation to visit the United States at taxpayers' expense." Eichmann implemented the Nazi extermination of 6 million Jews.

A package of nine China bills gave lawmakers two days to berate the Chinese government over human rights just a week after Clinton met with President Jiang Zemin at the White House. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., put off the debate in deference to the Chinese leader's state visit.

The Senate won't take up the measures until next year and passage of the most anti-China bills, which the administration opposes, isn't expected.

A religious persecution bill, approved Thursday on a 366-54 vote, would deny American visas to Beijing leaders deemed responsible for such practices in China and Tibet.

Rep. Jim Davis, D-Fla., defending the Clinton administration, warned that the Chinese could take retaliatory action and deny entry to China for thousands of missionaries and human rights advocates. He said American leaders should instead confront Beijing officials face to face.

"We cannot have that conversation, we cannot have that scrutiny of human rights ... unless we bring them into this country," Davis said.

A separate human rights sanctions bill under consideration would deny U.S. entry to Chinese officials who demand abortions for population control, a practice Jiang denies is part of China's stated one-child policy.

"Reports of forced abortion and sterilization in China rank among the worst human rights abuses in the world," said Rep. Tillie Fowler, R-Fla., sponsor of the bill. "As the haven of individual freedom and personal rights, the United States has an obligation to lead the crusade to end these abominable practices against women."

The House, on a 414-8 vote, also urged the Clinton administration to enforce a 1992 law that restricts sale of advanced cruise missiles to Iran by China and Russia. The measure also bans U.S. entry to Chinese arms dealers.

Other bills would give the president authority to bar activities of companies in the United States controlled by China's military, obstruct low-interest international loans to China and bolster Taiwan's defenses.

Another measure, which the administration supports, would authorize money for Radio Free Asia and Voice of America broadcasts into China.

During 5 1/2 hours of debate Wednesday, the House approved two bills to provide more money to monitor China's human rights and prison labor offenses.