President Clinton, who went to see the New China of entrepreneurs and cell phones, was welcomed with a ceremony from the Old China, featuring actors and musicians in elaborate Tang dynasty costumes. Both Chinese and American officials hoped this nine-day trip would, by pointing up positive changes since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, promote what a senior State Department official called "the de-demonization of China."
The first signs were not auspicious. Just before Clinton left the U.S., Beijing revoked the visas of three Radio Free Asia journalists who had planned to accompany his entourage. The Chinese also pulled the plug on...
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