Burr didn't vote on the measure, but said this isn't the right time to make the trip. The government of the People's Republic of China will formally receive President Clinton in Tiananmen Square, the scene of pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989 that were brutally put down by the governent, next week. Almost 2,000 pro-democracy demonstrators were killed when the military crushed their protest in 1989. The government arrested a large number of protesters and executed many of those pro-democracy students who were suspected of being involved. China hasn't made enough changes since that time to warrant a presidential visit, Goode said.
China needs to offer something as a gesture to human rights and to religious persecution.
In Tibet, their record is horrible. Goode wants to see China take concrete steps to improve its human rights record before Clinton makes his trip. He also wants to see a more level playing field set up with trade, especially with textile products, which are important to Southside Virginia. About a third of Chinese exports are shipped to the United States. On the reverse side, less than 5 percent of U.S. goods are sold in China, according to the Commerce Department.