Trade, Tiananmen, and Technology

President Clinton is making a historic trip to China later this month, the first presidential visit to China since the crackdown in Tiananmen Square. In light of recent questions about technology transfers to Beijing as well as investigations into alleged Chinese campaign contributions, critics are calling for President Clinton to cancel his trip to China. With recent events in South Asia, many charge China has exacerbated tensions in that region and beyond.

On the eve of President Clinton’s trip to China, The Brookings Institution will bring together leading scholars for an in-depth discussion to answer these hard questions:

• Should President Clinton even be going to China at this time?
• Is China acting as a rogue state or is it acting responsibly in combating the proliferation of weapons and technology?
• How will the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests affect the meeting?
• Should the U.S. renew MFN trade status for China as just proposed by President Clinton?
• Is it time for China to join the WTO?