An effort by the Clinton
Administration to block a broadcast of an interview
with Chinese dissident Wei Jinsheng on the Voice of
America's Mandarin language television service to
China was rejected by the VOA board and staff, the Washington
Times and the Wall Street Journal
reported.
The interview, in which Wei frankly
chastised the Chinese communists and the detrimental
effects on democratization efforts caused by the
West's economic relationship with the Beijing regime,
was broadcast in China on Monday, December 15, despite
the Administration's censorship efforts. David Burke,
chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors that
oversees VOA, told the Washington Times
that there had been complaints about broadcasts by the
State Department and U.S. ambassadors in the past.
"It's disgraceful to put pressure on these
journalists," Burke stated.
According to Administration officials,
the request was initiated by U.S. Ambassador to China
James Sasser and National Security Advisor Samuel
Berger. (Editor's note: Berger is a former
professional lobbyist for trade with China.) Sasser
claimed the broadcast would, "violate implicit
assurances to China that the U.S. wouldn't seek to
exploit Mr. Wei's release."
A White House official told the Times
that after the Administration's request was turned
down, "contacts were made so we could be clear
with the Chinese government this was not the U.S.
Government seeking the interview." As a result,
the interview of Wei at the VOA studio was also
recorded by Associated Press TV and Taiwan television.
Excerpts from the interview with Wei
Jinsheng broadcasted by VOA: "I knew the
communist party too well because I was brought up
within Party circles...It is not this person or that
person which is bad, but there is something wrong with
the whole system...In 1994, Communists officials told
me that MFN (U.S. Most Favored Nation trade status) is
nearly a matter of life or death for the Party. If it
is lost the Communist Party cannot survive...Only
economic pressure can force them to face the issues.
Therefore, I believe the United States should maintain
this pressure, otherwise there is no way to force the
Communist Party to respect the basic principles of
mankind...In the current trade between China and the
United States, most opportunities are actually
controlled by the Communist Party who has the biggest
share of benefits...by controlling so many trade
opportunities, they can force many American
businessmen to lobby in the United States for the
Communist Party."
