美參議院批准鮑卡斯出任駐華大使

The Senate easily confirmed longtime Sen. Max Baucus on Thursday to become ambassador to China, handing the job to a lawmaker well-versed in U.S. trade policy but with little expertise about military and other issues that have raised tensions with Beijing.

Senators gave final approval to the nomination of the moderate Baucus, D-Mont., by 96-0. Trim and youthful looking for his 72 years, Baucus accepted colleagues' congratulations before and during the roll call and voted "present" for his own nomination.

Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus has worked with Republicans during his 35 years in the Senate on issues ranging from taxes to health care reform — an independent streak that has vexed Democratic colleagues.

Baucus supported GOP President George W. Bush's sweeping 2001 tax cuts and his 2003 creation of Medicare prescription drug benefits, despite opposition by most Democrats.

He also helped write President Barack Obama's 2010 health care overhaul. Congress approved that measure solely with Democratic votes after Baucus spent months trying to craft a bipartisan version with Republicans.

"I'm proud to stand up for it, because it is helping millions of Americans," Baucus said in farewell remarks on the Senate floor after Thursday's vote, defending a law that Republicans are making a top issue this election year.

Most recently, he'd been working with Republicans to craft bills revamping the income tax system and streamlining congressional votes on trade treaties Obama is seeking with Asia and Europe.

"His passion is well-known to all of us, his decades of experience here in Congress. He's an excellent choice that President Obama made to represent America's interests in China," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a long-time Finance panel colleague, lauded the Montanan for "his willingness to put partisan differences aside for the greater good of all."

In 2001, Baucus championed China's inclusion in the World Trade Organization, which has helped Beijing conduct business with other countries. He has sponsored legislation — not enacted — punishing China for undervaluing its currency and has criticized Beijing for blocking U.S. imports of beef, a big business in his rural state.

Baucus had already announced he would not seek re-election this fall when Obama tapped him last December for the ambassadorship.

His early departure from the Senate — spokesman Sean Neary said Baucus planned to formally resign late Thursday — could turn what looked like a likely GOP Senate seat pickup into a more competitive race.

Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullock planned a Friday news conference at which he was expected to name a temporary replacement for Baucus, perhaps Democratic Lt. Gov. John Walsh. That could let the appointee build a Senate record and gain visibility to defend the seat against expected GOP candidate Rep. Steve Daines.

Baucus' confirmation comes as China has emerged as a leading global economic and military power, at times causing strains between Beijing and Washington and its allies in the region.

China's economy is second in size only to that of the United States. The U.S. trade deficit with China hit $318 billion last year, far larger than it is with any other country, and the $1.3 trillion in Treasury securities China owns make it the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt.

Ties have also frayed as the U.S. has accused China of cybertheft of American intellectual property and of holding down the value of its currency to give a price advantage to its companies trading overseas.

U.S. officials have clashed with China over its human rights record, accusing it of mistreating political dissidents and many minority groups. On Thursday, Obama said at the annual National Prayer Breakfast that he has told leaders in Beijing that "realizing China's potential rests on upholding universal rights."

Beijing has been modernizing its military forces and engaging in territorial disputes in the seas off East Asia with Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Baucus will replace Gary Locke, the former Commerce secretary and first Chinese-American to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.據美國媒體報道，美國參議院2月6日以96票支持、0票反對的表決最終批准馬克斯•鮑卡斯爲新任駐華大使。結果宣佈前後，鮑卡斯接受了同事的祝賀。

鮑卡斯現年72歲，是蒙大拿州人，現任參議院財政委員會主席。這位國會議員精通美國貿易政策，但不太瞭解導致中美關係緊張的軍事及其他問題。在參議院工作35年期間，他一直與共和黨人合作，解決從稅收到醫療改革等一系列困擾民主黨的問題。

雖然大多數民主黨人表示反對，但是鮑卡斯支持了共和黨總統喬治•布什2001年的全面減稅計劃，並在2003年創立了醫療保險處方藥福利。

他還幫助奧巴馬總統起草2010年的醫療改革修訂案，並與共和黨合作數月，精心制訂出代表兩黨的醫療改革方案，獲國會批准。

6日的投票結束後，鮑卡斯在參議院的告別講話中表示爲支持這次醫療改革而驕傲，因爲它幫助了數百萬美國人。

最近，他一直與共和黨人合作精心制訂改革所得稅制度的法案，並幫助奧巴馬政府在與歐洲、亞洲簽署貿易協定一事上尋求國會的支持。

“他在國會工作數十年，他的熱情我們衆所周知。他代表美國在中國的利益，是奧巴馬總統做出的最佳選擇。”參議院共和黨領袖內華達州民主黨人哈里•裏德說。

猶他州共和黨參議員奧林•哈奇也稱讚他“爲了大家的更大利益，願意拋開黨派分歧”。

2001年，鮑卡斯支持中國加入世界貿易組織，有助於中國開展國際貿易。鮑卡斯也曾試圖立法處罰中國壓低人民幣匯率，但沒有實行。另外，來自農業重地蒙大拿州的他還曾批評中國禁止進口美國牛肉。

去年12月奧巴馬推選他出任大使時，鮑卡斯已經宣佈今年秋天不會再尋求連任財政委員會主席。據發言人肖恩透露，鮑卡斯6日正式辭職。他的提前離開可能會使參議院席位的競爭更加激烈。

蒙大拿州州長、民主黨人史蒂夫•布洛克打算在7日召開新聞發佈會，宣佈臨時代替鮑卡斯的人選——可能是民主黨副州長約翰•沃爾什，爲爭取參議院席位做準備。