These measures included human rights legislation dealing with prison labor exports, coercive abortion practices, and religious intolerance. In addition, the package addressed security concerns including China's missile proliferation activities, the activities of the People's Liberation Army, and Taiwan's need to defend itself against possible Chinese aggression. Consideration of this series of bills was deferred until after the visit of President Jiang Zemin, but the effort was designed to influence President Clinton's priorities and discussions at the summit. Of course, since these resolutions were passed during the closing days of the congressional session, none of these initiatives has become law. While I believe some provisions in this legislative package were questionable in accuracy and were unnecessarily and inappropriately confrontational, the votes taken by the House of Representatives do reflect a general dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Similar efforts are likely to be made in the future.
There is no more volatile and dangerous spot in Asia, perhaps in the world, than North Korea. Decades of self-imposed isolation have resulted in a North Korean regime that appears paranoid and quite capable of lashing out in violence toward the South. If the American military is to be tested in the next few years, that test is quite likely to come on the Korean Peninsula. Thus, it is incumbent upon Congress to be very careful in dealing with North Korea. The Clinton Administration's policy toward North Korea seems to be designed to prevent a complete collapse of the North Korean economy, a strategy which, in theory, would decrease the likelihood of Pyongyang launching a desperation military offensive toward the South.