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Cohen Ties China Trade Deal to Regional Security
US Defence Secretary William Cohen warned Congress on Wednesday that any rejection of a pending China trade deal would undermine US strategic interests.
"I am absolutely convinced after all of my travels to China that a rejection of permanent trading status for China will have serious strategic implications for the United States," Cohen told a dinner in support of the Asia Society Washington centre.
Cohen said countries in the region can "take comfort" from a constructive US relationship with China because this is "critically important" to their own future policies.
"And I will tell you that I think it's sheer folly for anyone to suggest that we can somehow contain China -- it's folly and futile," he said.
House of Representatives Republican leaders warned the White House earlier on Wednesday that congressional support for legislation granting permanent US trading privileges to China is in jeopardy.
Under the trade agreement announced in November, China would open a wide range of markets, from agriculture to telecommunications.
In exchange, the White House says, Congress must grant China permanent normal trade relations. Currently, its trade status undergoes an annual congressional review. Normal trade status would guarantee Chinese goods the same low-tariff access to US markets as products from nearly every other nation.
The House is due to vote on the China trade bill during the week of May 22. The Senate will follow in early June.
Most senators support the measure. But it faces stiff opposition from labour unions and their Democratic allies in the House.
"So I would implore my former colleagues to support this," Cohen said. "It's important from an economic point of view, but even more critical, it's important from a strategic point of view."
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