And the American Government should keep in mind that the consequence of not confronting China today might be a far more dangerous world in the years to come.

In recent months, the Bush Administration has taken a number of small but visible steps to confront China in the areas of trade, human rights and arms.

Added to challenge of having to confront China on these issues, a new Ambassador would face the prospect of being replaced after the Presidential election in the year 2000.

Then a cut to present-day photographs and news footage, and a fevered sprint through conspiracies and betrayals-the "farces, schemes, and disasters" confronting China today.

A. M. Rosenthal: Washington confronts China.

With closely fought presidential elections set for March, many Taiwanese politicians are unwilling to back away from confronting China.

But the continuing dilemma confronting China is whether it can absorb technical accomplishments without embracing the ideas that gave rise to those achievements.

"I think there is a reluctance to confront China," said Representative Phil English, a Republican from Pennsylvania and the leader of the Congressional steel caucus.

Before flying to Hong Kong, Mr. Clinton spoke Thursday on the environmental hazards confronting China.

It would be odd to confront China over copyrights while ignoring the sale of dangerous nuclear weapons technology.