President Bush, marking the first anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, pledged U.S. support for those who seek freedom and expressed hope China will turn toward "the path of reform."
But members of Congress and a recently escaped Chinese student ripped Bush Monday for not standing more forcefully for those who died in China in the pursuit of democracy and charged that his policies toward Beijing are too cautious."The rulers of China are hoping the world will forget what happened 12 months ago. And President Bush, by renewing most-favored-nation trading status for China, is doing what the Chinese government wants done," said Senate Democratic leader George Mitchell of Maine.
In a statement, Bush noted he "deeply deplored" the use of force last year to crush pro-democracy demonstrators and said, "I remain deeply concerned by the lack of respect for internationally recognized human rights in China today and urge a rapid return to the more positive course set before Tiananmen occurred."
Over objections of members of Congress as well as visiting Chinese students, Bush recommended on May 24 that China maintain its most-favored-nation trade status. Mitchell said congressional leaders would soon discuss whether they would try to block Bush's recommendation.
Mitchell said he felt compelled to speak out Monday because Bush had yet to make a statement on the anniversary of the June 3-4 crackdown. Bush issued his statement late in the afternoon.
Chai Ling, 24, a leader of the pro-democracy demonstrators who recently escaped with her husband from China after 10 months as one of its most wanted fugitives, criticized U.S. officials for continuing to "drag their feet." Chai will meet congressional leaders this week and wants to meet Bush. "I would like to tell him some things that I know about," Chai said. "Maybe President Bush doesn't know what the effect (of his policies) is."