ABSTRACT
The executive order stated that the administration would pursue other legislative and executive actions to ensure that China complied with trade agreements and adhered to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Missile Technology Control Regime and other nonproliferation commitments. The visit of Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles Freeman effectively ended the ban on high-level military contacts that had been in place since June 5, 1989. Chinese officials privately offered a somewhat different rationale for China’s shift and also provided a somewhat more optimistic outlook for US-China relations. China’s leaders made clear that Tibet would continue to receive central government financial assistance and would retain “special flexibility” in implementing reform policies mandated elsewhere in China. Officials responsible for non-proliferation policy were said to favor the imposition of US penalties on China, citing especially China’s assistance to Iran. On August 9, 1994, the House of Representatives considered three measures relating to China’s MFN status, and enacted one that essentially codified the president’s initiatives.
