As a second U.S. aircraft carrier group moved into Taiwan's waters to monitor Chinese armed missile tests, Clinton's national security advisor, Anthony Lake, said the president still plans to ask Congress to renew China's Most Favored Nation status, which lowers tariff rates on imports. The decision sets the stage for an expected prolonged and bloody debate within Congress over China's trading status, forcing conservative Republicans to form unlikely alliances with liberal Democrats to oppose MFN renewal. Clinton won renewal last year by separating China's MFN status from human rights issues. Most Favored Nation status is up for renewal on an annual basis. Most countries trading with the U.S. have their MFN status renewed without fuss.
China is an exception.
Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota thinks it will be a tough sell to get MFN approval for China this year. In the House, Ohio Democrat Marcy Kaptur is expected to lead a move renewal of China's MFN, arguing that promises made by the White House last year have failed to produce results. China actually went in the opposite direction. Alarmed at China's plan to test armed missiles near Taiwan starting tomorrow, Clinton over the weekend ordered the U.S.S. Independence, an aircraft carrier stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, to move closer to Taiwan with its battle group to monitor the situation. Yesterday, a group headed by the carrier U.S.S. Nimitz is steamed towards Taiwan from the Persian Gulf.