Since the initial warming of U.S.-China relations in the early 1970s, policymakers have had difficulty balancing conflicting U.S. policy concerns in the Peoples Republic of China. In the strange world of diplomacy between the two, nothing is predictable. From Nixon to Clinton, presidents have had to reconcile security and human rights concerns with the corporate desire for expanded economic relations between the two countries. Nixon established ties with Mao Zedongs brutal regime in 1972. And today Clintons administration is trying to influence Chinas course from within a close economic and diplomatic relationship.In 1989 the Tiananmen Square Massacre drew public attention to the inconsistent character of U.S.-China policy. There was a public outcry for a stronger stance against human rights violations. Weapons exported to China were prohibited. Nuclear energy cooperation ceased and Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Trade Development Agency assistance programs were suspended.There are three major problems with the current U.S. Policy towards China. The first, is that neither existing sanctions or comprehensive engagement has resulted in human rights improvements. Next, measures adopted following Tiananmen Square are limited and in some cases not fully implemented. And finally, despite its failure to respect human rights, China is the largest recipient of World Bank Funds.Under pressure to integrate human rights concerns more closely into overall U.S.-China policy, Washington has adopted a number of sanctions including restrictions on aid. The Clinton administration has argued that increased economic integration of China into the world market is the best way to advance human rights.Chinese human rights practices continue to fall far below internationally accepted standards. Neither the existing U.S. sanctions nor the policy of comprehensive engagement has resulted in human rights improvements.Now, the United States is trying ...
