WASHINGTON (AFP) - From military strategy and human rights to labor standards and trade, China is expected to come under tighter scrutiny by the upcoming Democratic-controlled Congress.
Democratic lawmakers have complained that the dependence of the Republican administration of President George W. Bush on Beijing to contain North Korea's nuclear ambitions has led to inevitable US compromises on the critical human rights and trade fronts.
"I think the most noticeable impact of the Congressional elections is likely to be on US China policy," said Robert Hathaway of the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars.
Evaluating the Republican Party's loss of control of the House of Representatives and Senate in last Tuesday's legislative elections, he said the Democrats were likely to pressure the Bush administration to be "more confrontational" with China on trade, human rights, religious freedom and Taiwan-related issues.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061111/pl_afp/usvotechina