TRADE WITH CHINA IS BETTER THAN WAR

While the Chinese government was busy cracking down on the Falun Gong, it received some good news from the U.S. House of Representatives, which extended normal trade status between China and the United States for another year.

This is an annual hot button in Washington. The issue of trade relations with China provides an opportunity for human rights activists to stage protests. The question isn't whether China is a poster child for human rights. The issue is what role the United States -- or any other nation, for that matter -- should take in this regard.

The plain fact is that there are dozens of countries with dubious human-rights records. If the United States were to make all its decisions regarding those nations on that single issue, world trade would come to a screeching halt.

U.S. business groups, meanwhile, contend that trade with China provides some 200,000 American jobs resulting in $18 billion annual of sales to China.

Much is made of this country's trade deficit with China -- and it's enormous. But in a world economy, what's so wrong with a trade deficit? U.S. producers compete with Chinese producers and cry foul because of China's low-cost labor. In some respects, it seems better to have the millions of Chinese making some sort of wages rather than turning to revolution or war because nobody will buy their products.

Trade with China continues to be one of the few issues that binds some Republicans and Democrats, both in favor and opposed. Despite opposition, the support for trade with China continues to grow each year as Congress votes for yet another extension.