China nixes US congressional trip

[dArKeR]

SINS OF COMMISSION: The group, which was refused diplomatic-status visas, has made itself unwelcome by criticizing China's military buildup
By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Sunday, Mar 07, 2004,Page 1

China has rejected a visa application by a US congressional commission to visit the mainland next week on official business, despite the group's official sanction by the State Department and Congress, and an invitation by the US ambassador to Beijing Clark Randt, in what some observers view as a major Chinese slap to Washington, the Taipei Times has learned.

Members of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which has been critical of many of Beijing's actions, had applied for visas under their official passports issued by the State Department to meet with US and Chinese officials in Beijing as part of the commission's preparation for a biannual report on US-China relations due to be issued this spring.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/07/2003101453

[Gman]

1. Good for China!

All those rabid GOP bastards will do is come back and trash a country that extended its hospitality to them.

[myopic4141]

2. This is a result of

Shrubby's poor diplomatic posturing.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Criticzing China's military build-up?

From $24BB to $27BB? Can you believe the hypocrisy? We spend $400BB+ per year and we are concerned about a military build of China that has 5X the number of people and at least 3X the geographical area?

Given this administration's actions in the past year, I'm surprised every country in the world hasn't tripled their budgets on defense spending.

[w4rma]

4. Is the Chinese government getting braver?

I hope this type of thing isn't allowed to escalate.

[anarchy1999]

5. Just how are "we" supposed to stop this type of thing from escalating?

I would have to say that we are responsible for the escalation. IMHO.

So Sorry.

Just who is the world's largest Producer of Weapons of Mass Destruction? Not the US, could it be? Or is it GB, France or Germany, maybe Russia. Just who is it? Oh jeez, not the US. ....