Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: This can be President Clinton’s most important trip

Thursday, June 25, 1998 | 10:58 a.m.

LAST FALL, People's Republic of China President Jiang Zemin came to the United States and smiled his way past most controversy. He bought some aircraft, lectured and was entertained at a White House state dinner. At no time did the Chinese leader concede that some big changes should or would be made in his nation.

The Chinese government's use of enforced abortions, starvation of street urchins and the suppression of religious and political freedoms have been among the stories continually coming from behind the leaky bamboo curtain. The country has been open for trade favorable for its needs but all other exchanges have been limited. Pressure from business leaders in our country has continually increased on our political leaders to overlook any shortcomings in Beijing so they can profit from trade opportunities.

Now President Bill Clinton is on mainland China to return Jiang's visit. I'm happy he's there because of the many things for him to do. Although nine years have passed since the government's brutal bloodletting in Tiananmen Square, the scenes still remain fresh on the minds of millions in our country. It's in this very square that the Chinese government plans to greet President Clinton. At that time, our president should speak up and pay tribute to the hundreds of people who demonstrated there only to be beaten, killed or jailed by his hosts. This should be followed a couple of days later by a strong human rights speech when addressing the students and faculty of Beijing University.

When talking privately with Chinese leaders, there's no need to whine about the diversion of our technology for military purposes. This is the result of our own sloppy transfer of technology to China that includes both the Bush and Reagan administrations in addition to Clinton's. On the other hand, he should make clear his serious concern about China transferring nuclear and other weapon technology to Pakistan. Without China's help, it is unlikely that Pakistan would have had the nuclear weapons and missiles it tested last month.

Our president should continue to push for legitimate trade with the People's Republic of China. I say legitimate because it appears that some American businessmen are so eager to increase trade that they seek ways to skirt all restrictions on high technology methods and items. Also, he should remind them that the flow of trade must be a two-way flow. Even today, the Republic of China (Taiwan) buys 1.6 times the amount of American goods that mainland China buys.

Taiwan is another subject of interest. Past U.S. presidents Nixon, Carter, Reagan and Bush have all been guilty of diplomatically hugging the mainland and slapping our true friends on Taiwan. President Richard Nixon leaned over backward to make friends with Red China and went so far as to recognize it as the "only legitimate" China. The Republic of China government on Taiwan was put on notice and presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan completed the deal. No formal recognition of Taiwan and an ambassador assigned to the People's Republic of China in Beijing only.

The democracy of Taiwan is hoping that no additional political concessions concerning that country are made by the United States to mainland China. They don't want a statement coming from Beijing that the United States does not support (1) Taiwan independence; (2) a one-China, one-Taiwan policy or a two-China policy; and (3) Taiwan's membership in the United Nations or in organizations that are based on statehood. Because of our long friendship with Taiwan, any such discussions or statements should include that little country's participation.

A recent editorial in The Free China Journal, a Taiwan publication, has a headline saying "Clinton won't do Peking's bidding." After so many diplomatic slaps from U.S. presidents, a reader must wonder why the writer has such confidence. Although Taiwan has strong support in Congress, the executive branch of government makes and executes foreign policy.

Despite several foreign policy successes, the Clinton administration's record is far from perfect. His domestic policy successes have been exceptional and his favorable ratings in polls reflect these accomplishments. During the coming week, Americans will have an opportunity to judge him as a foreign policy winner or a loser as he makes one of his most difficult and perilous journeys into the world of diplomacy.

Good luck, Mr. President.