China is target of opportunity for GOP in 2000
By Dick Morris
President Clinton is developing a real political vulnerability over
U.S. relations with China. A combination of trade, espionage,
human rights and technology-sharing issues make this
administration's relationship with China a real issue for the 2000
elections.
The Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll of April 9 shows that 58
percent feel that Clinton should adopt a tougher stance in
dealings with China (24 percent felt his posture was appropriate
and 2 percent said it was too tough). Even among Democrats,
49 percent felt he needs to be tougher while 64 percent of
independents said a tougher stance was warranted.
China is seen as the most significant threat the United States
faces. It is a double threat, in the eyes of the average American,
both economic and military. The Fox News poll asked voters
which nation represented the most serious economic threat and
which posed the most dangerous military problem. China
ranked first on the military list and second on the economic
one.
Republicans in Congress are likely to be swift to exploit this
administration vulnerability. Whether their focus falls on China's
military threat, their acquisition of rocket technology through
satellite launches approved by the administration, espionage,
human rights, campaign contributions, or trade issues, they are
sure to hit pay dirt.
It might also be interesting for Republicans to probe whether
National Security Adviser Sandy Berger's law firm represented
China's trade interests as a lobbyist when Berger was with
them prior to his selection by Clinton to be the National Security
Council advisor. Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was
quoted by The Washington Post on Jan. 26, 1997, as saying
that Berger “was the point person at the Hogan & Hartson law
firm for the trade office of the Chinese government” before Berger
joined the administration.
Any way you slice it, “China” can be the same kind of
single-word issue against the Democrats in 2000 that “Korea”
was in 1952 and “Iran” was in 1980. Despite Berger's urging,
Clinton slipped a bullet in resisting a trade accord with China.
Any backdoor effort to bring China into the World Trade
Organization without consulting with Congress will just inflame
congressional anger at Clinton's China policy.
It's likely that The New York Times' Jeff Gerth has more
intelligence revelations to share with us. There is likely more to
be learned about the China contributions scandal and the Loral
satellite launches. Pressure will doubtless mount on the Justice
Department to make good on its prediction to the NSC that an
indictment of Loral is in the cards.
The China issue isn't going away anytime soon. Clinton's inept
handling of this foreign policy issue and Berger's unabashed
stance as China's chief apologist this side of Los Alamos open
the administration to vulnerability.
Dick Morris is a former political consultant to President Clinton,
Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and other political figures. |
