Mon, Mar 15, 2004 page8

• China lacks the right to interfere in US affairs

  • By Doug Bandow
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  China routinely vilifies any comment on its political practices as unwarranted, outside "interference." Yet Beijing is always ready to lecture the US about its policies.

  Most recently, China was outraged when US officials met with Martin Lee (李柱銘), founder of the party with the most directly elected seats in Hong Kong's legislature. The only proper response from Washington is a not-so-polite directive that Beijing stop interfering in the US' internal affairs.

  The 1997 reversion of Hong Kong from a colony of Britain to a Special Administrative Region of China was no cause for celebration to anyone who values human liberty above brutal nationalism.

  Still, the city's 6.8 million residents value freedom. Hundreds of thousands rallied last year to oppose proposed "anti-subversion" legislation pushed by China. Many of them now are advocating free elections and universal suffrage. But Beijing has responded to talk of democracy with a vitriolic barrage.

  Consider China's reaction to past and present presidential races in Taiwan. Equally threatening is the fact that Hong Kong residents, too, can vote, and have favored independent voices. Bai Gang (白鋼), director of the Centre for Public Policy Research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, complains, "Pro-democracy politicians have serious inadequacies in identification with the country. However, they have the upper hand over the patriotic camp in Hong Kong."

  That is, in China's view, the wrong folks are winning elections. As a result, Lee has more popular legitimacy than does Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤).

  Obviously, Washington cannot force China to keep its promises to the people of Hong Kong. Still, though Americans cannot enshrine democracy in Hong Kong, they can talk to democrats in Kong Kong.

  US Senator Sam Brownback invited Lee to Washington to testify about the situation in Hong Kong. While there, Lee met with a number of legislators, as well as Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

  Nothing seditious about any of this. Indeed, Lee stated his faith that China's top leaders would "get it right."

  Nevertheless, Chinese apparatchiks were angry about his trip. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (李肇星) complained, "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. The Chinese people have the resolve, the ability and the wisdom to maintain the stability and the prosperity of Hong Kong. We do not welcome, nor do we need, any outside intervention in Hong Kong affairs."

  It brings to mind China's earlier attempts to browbeat Washington into not allowing President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui(李登輝) to visit the US, even in a private capacity and to make airline connections to other nations. Shamefully, the squeamish administration of former US president Bill Clinton proved ready to appease Beijing. Only congressional pressure caused Washington to grant the necessary visas.

  However, there can be no compromise over the US extending its hospitality to those who share its ideals around the globe. People like Martin Lee should be encouraged, not just allowed, to visit the US.

  This is an internal affair for Washington. China has no right to interfere.

  Martin Lee is optimistic about Hong Kong's future, believing that Chinese leaders "will know ultimately that democracy is not something they should fear."

  We must hope he is right, since the US cannot prevent China from suppressing human rights there or even in Hong Kong. But the US certainly should not suppress human rights in the US at China's behest.

  Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute.
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