George W. Bush 2000 On The Issues
Foreign
Policy
Governor Bush believes that
American foreign policy must be more than the management of crisis. It
must have a great and guiding goal: to turn this time of American
influence into generations of democratic peace. This is accomplished by
concentrating on enduring national interests and by resisting the
temptation to withdraw from the world. As President, George W. Bush will
pursue a distinctly American internationalism. He will set
priorities and stick to them to avoid drift in foreign policy.
Governor Bush’s Foreign Policy Priorities
As President, George W. Bush will:
- Work with our strong democratic allies in Europe and Asia to extend
the peace and deal with the challenges of China and Russia – two
great powers in transition.
- Promote a fully democratic Western Hemisphere, bound together by
free trade.
- Defend America's interests in the Persian Gulf and advance peace in
the Middle East, based upon a secure Israel.
- Check the contagious spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the
means to deliver them.
- Lead toward a world that trades in freedom.
Governor Bush’s Foreign Policy Principles and Proposals
Excerpts from Governor Bush’s Foreign Policy Address, November 19,
1999.
- No Isolationism: America cannot withdraw from the world. “American
foreign policy cannot be founded on fear. Fear that American workers
can’t compete. Fear that America will corrupt the world – or be
corrupted by it. This fear has no place in the party of Reagan, or in
the party of Truman.”
- No Drift: The President must set priorities and stick to them.
“Unless a president sets his own priorities, his priorities will be
set by others – by adversaries, or the crisis of the moment, live on
CNN.”
- Eurasia, the strategic heartland, our greatest priority. “Two of
Eurasia’s greatest powers – China and Russia – are powers in
transition. And it is difficult to know their intentions when they do
not know their own futures. If they become America’s friends, that
friendship will steady the world. But if not, the peace we seek may
not be found.”
- China: China is a competitor, not a strategic partner. “We
must deal with China without ill-will – but without illusions.”
- US Allies in the Pacific. “We must show American power and purpose
in strong support for our Asian friends and allies. This means keeping
our pledge to deter aggression against the Republic of Korea, and
strengthening security ties with Japan. This means expanding theater
missile defenses among our allies.”
- Taiwan. We must “honor…our promises to the people of Taiwan. We
do not deny there is one China. But we deny the right of Beijing to
impose their rule on a free people. As I’ve said before, we will
help Taiwan to defend itself.”
- Trade. “China will find in America a confident and willing trade
partner. And with trade comes our standing invitation into the world
of economic freedom. China’s entry into the World Trade Organization
is welcome, and this should open the door for Taiwan as well.”
- Human Rights. “If I am president, China will know that America’s
values are always part of America’s agenda. Our advocacy of human
freedom is not a formality of diplomacy, it is a fundamental
commitment of our country. It is the source of our confidence that
communism, in every form, has seen its day. And I view free trade as
an important ally in what Ronald Reagan called ‘a forward strategy
for freedom.’”
- Russia: Our first order of business is the national security of our
nation.
“Instead of confronting each other, we confront the legacy of a dead
ideological rivalry – thousands of nuclear weapons, which, in the
case of Russia, may not be secure. And together we also face an
emerging threat – from rogue nations, nuclear theft and accidental
launch. All this requires nothing short of a new strategic
relationship to protect the peace of the world.”
- Weapons of Mass Destruction. “In an act of foresight and
statesmanship, [Senator Lugar and Senator Sam Nunn in 1991] realized
that existing Russian nuclear facilities were in danger of being
compromised. The next president must press for an accurate inventory
of all this material. I’ll ask the Congress to increase
substantially our assistance to Russia in dismantling as many of their
weapons as possible, as quickly as possible.”
- Missile Defense. “We…need missile defense systems – both
theater and national. If I am Commander-in-Chief, we will develop and
deploy them. Under the mutual threat of rogue nations, there is a real
possibility the Russians could join with us and our friends and allies
to cooperate on missile defense systems. But there is only one
condition. Russia must break its dangerous habit of proliferation.”
- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Proliferation. “In the hard work
of halting proliferation, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is not the
answer. I’ve said that our nation should continue its moratorium on
testing. Yet far more important is to constrict the supply of nuclear
materials and the means to deliver them – by making this a priority
with Russia and China.”
- Democracy in Russia. “Dealing with Russia on essential issues will
be far easier if we are dealing with a democratic and free Russia. Our
goal is to promote, not only the appearance of democracy in Russia,
but the structures, spirit, and reality of democracy. This is clearly
not done by focusing our aid and attention on a corrupt and favored
elite. Real change in Russia –as in China – will come not from
above, but from below. From a rising class of entrepreneurs and
business people. From new leaders who will build a new Russian state,
where power is shared, not controlled.”
- Chechnya. “Even as we support Russian reform, we cannot excuse
Russian brutality. When the Russian government attacks civilians –
killing women and children, leaving orphans and refugees –it can no
longer expect aid from international lending institutions. Just as we
do not want Russia to descend into cruelty, we do not want it to
return to imperialism. Russia does have interests with its newly
independent neighbors…The United States should actively support
these nations of the Baltics, the Caucasus and Central Asia, along
with the Ukraine, by promoting regional peace and economic
development, and opening links to the wider world.”
- India. “India is now debating its future and its strategic path,
and the United States must pay it more attention. We should establish
more trade and investment with India as it opens to the world. And we
should work with the Indian government, ensuring it is a force for
stability and security in Asia. This should not undermine our
longstanding relationship with Pakistan, which remains crucial to the
peace of the region.”
- Alliances: Greater consultation and greater cooperation are needed
to address security challenges. “All our goals in Eurasia will
depend on America strengthening the alliances that sustain our
influence – in Europe and East Asia and the Middle East. For
NATO to be strong, cohesive and active, the President must give it
consistent direction: on the Alliance’s purpose; on Europe’s need
to invest more in defense capabilities; and, when necessary, in
military conflict. To be relied upon when they are needed, our allies
must be respected when they are not. The United States needs its
European allies, as well as friends in other regions, to help us with
security challenges as they arise. For our allies, sharing the
enormous opportunities of Eurasia also means sharing the burdens and
risks of sustaining the peace. The support of friends allows America
to preserve its power and will for the vital interests we share.”
Source: George W. Bush for President 2000 Web Site
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