Curt Weldon's Lincoln Lecture
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Much the same dynamic is at work when it comes to foreign and defense policy,
where China and the United States have perhaps their most serious
disagreements. As the Chairman of the Research and Development
Subcommittee of the House Committee on National Security, I perhaps have a
greater sensitivity to these issues than to others. However, I do believe that
issues of war and peace must be viewed with the utmost seriousness.
Last December, your Defense Minister, General Chi Haotian, paid an official visit
to our country. Some discussion surrounded that visit. One school of thought
argued against high level contact between representatives of your government
and ours as a sign of displeasure with China's policies. This view is widespread
among my colleagues in the Republican Party. Some refused to meet with
General Chi when he visited Capitol Hill. In fact, I was the only Republican
Member of Congress to do so. I did so because I believe it is important to
discuss face to face the issues that divide us and because I believe it was
important for General Chi to understand the concerns that many in the Congress
have about China's foreign and defense policy. I can also say I gained a better
appreciation of China's position on these matters.
My appreciation of China's defense policy was enhanced during my January visit
to your National Defense University in Beijing and my discussions with Major
General Pan Zheng-qiang. I was told that this was the first time an American
Congressman had visited the National Defense University. I was proud to be
accorded that honor.
I am considered to be a conservative on defense issues, but I also believe
in the value of frank dialogue.I visited the Soviet Union many times during the
Cold War, and have traveled to Russia many times since,to discuss policy
differences between our two sides. While this is only my second visit to China, I
hope it will lead to a productive and continuing exchange between Chinese
officials and Members of our Congress.
In this context, let me say that I was pleased when our Secretary of State Warren
Christopher came to Fudan University last November and announced that
contacts between officials of your government and ours had intensified.
Secretary Christopher referred to this as "a healthy sign of maturing relations."I
agree, and I would like to develop an ongoing dialogue and exchange
between our Congress and your National People's Congress. While our
two legislative bodies do not exactly function in parallel ways, I believe
increased contacts are important to facilitate mutual understanding and
progress on some of the thorniest issues that divide us.
Clearly, our systems are different, as are our perceptions. We have many
differences of opinion, as for example, on the issue of human rights. I also know
that China feels that the United States is treating it unfairly in many ways. For
example, some in China have articulated the belief that the United States is
