WSJA A Change in Tone from the U.S. Congress

Typically, U.S. congressional resolutions on China are highly critical of the nation's government and it actions. Last month, by a vote of 413-1, the House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on China to end its crackdown on Tibet. Other recent resolutions have criticized China's one-child policy, supported Taiwan's right to self-defense and named China as one of several 'serial abusers of human rights.'

But in another sign of softening in the tone toward China, at least temporarily, in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake, the U.S. Senate yesterday passed a resolution mourning the loss of life in the May 12 Sichuan quake. The measure, introduced by Barbara Boxer (D, Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R, Ark.), 'expresses the sense of the Senate mourning the loss of life resulting from the earthquake and expressing condolences to the people of China, especially those who lost loved ones,' according to a statement on Boxer's Web site. The resolution also called on president Bush to provide relief aid and expressed the Senate's willingness to provide additional resources to help those affected by the quake.

Xinhua called the resolution by the Senate 'an unusual move to express its sense.' A similar resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives by David Wu (D, Ore.).

Sky Canaves
Wallstreet Journal 2008-05-21