Published by: World Tibet Network News Monday, November 10, 1997

WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (AFP) - Radio Free Asia broadcasts to communist China are to be expanded under a bill adopted Sunday by the US House of Representatives.

By a majority of 401 votes to 21, House members voted to authorize 50 million dollars for Radio Free Asia and Voice of America during this fiscal year to allow for 24-hour a day broadcasts to China in Mandarin, Cantonese and Tibetan as well as other dialects.

The bill was one of several measures being put forward by the US Congress to promote democracy in China and punish Beijing for its record on human rights.

Debate of the measures had been delayed out of deference to Chinese President Jiang Zemin who recently visited the United States on a state visit.