U.S. – CHINA COMMISSION CITES SOME PROGRESS YET SOME TROUBLING TRENDS FOR U.S. ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS
Year-Long Study Offers 42 Recommendations In Report to Congress
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2007 |
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Paul Magnusson (202) 624-1411 Omar Aslam (202) 624-1447 |
WASHINGTON, DC (November 15, 2007) – China has adopted policies to reverse its progress toward a more market-based economy, opting instead to increase government intervention in the economy, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. “Free and fair trade depends on a market approach to international commerce, rather than a contest among governments and their closely owned and subsidized industries,” said Carolyn Bartholomew, chairman of the Commission as she officially released the group’s 2007 annual report to Congress on Thursday.
The Commission, a bipartisan group established by Congress to analyze the economic and national security relationship of the two nations, made 42 recommendations to Congress for further action. The book-length report was unanimously approved by the 12 Commissioners, appointed by each party’s leadership. The Commission held seven hearings; travelled to China, Taiwan, and India; commissioned original research; and consulted with economic, intellegence, and military agencies to reach its conclusions.
The report acknowledges that China’s adherence to non-proliferation agreements has improved considerably over the past several years. Yet China has also continued to build up its military capacity and sophistication with the intent of challenging the U.S., said Commission Vice Chairman Daniel Blumenthal. Blumenthal also expressed concern at “…China’s willingness to invest in and sell weapons to Iran and Sudan, both countries with abysmal human rights records.”