Obama went to China and all he got were some photos at the Great Wall
Friday, November 20, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
UNITED NATIONS Ñ President Barack ObamaÕs walk along the historic Great Wall of China, an obligatory stop for visiting American Presidents from Richard Nixon to George Bush, provided more than a photogenic backdrop; it evoked the political metaphor for the recently concluded Sino/American summit which while superficially smooth and stage-managed, nonetheless saw Beijing meticulously block key items on the U.S. agenda.
In a classic stage-managed setting, ChinaÕs Marxist mandarins choreographed a style over substance atmosphere during their first major meetings with U.S. President Obama. BeijingÕs President and Communist Party leader Hu Jintao, looking more the role of the Chairman of the Board of China incorporated than the image of past PRC proletarian rulers, appeared calmly in control.
The summit, which produced little in the way of political, economic, or human rights substance for the USA, nonetheless did much to publicly reinforce the role of the PeopleÕs Republic of China as a confident and rising power.
The Wall Street Journal called the encounters an Òawkward summitÓ and added, ÒU.S., China in Strained Diplomatic Embrace.Ó Even the New York Times conceded, ÒWith ChinaÕs micro-management of Mr. ObamaÕs appearances in the country, the trip did more to showcase ChinaÕs ability to push back against outside pressure than it did to advance major issues on Mr. ObamaÕs agenda, analysts said.Ó
So what were some to the key points President Obama raised?
Human rights. Good try by Obama, but blocked by communist ChinaÕs perfected censorship cocoon which can give the impression of openness but has the practical effect of stifling and silencing even the spirited Shanghai discussion with a town hall type audience. While Obama showed undue deference to the PRC rulers on human rights issues, this starkly contrasted with the visits of Clinton and Bush who insisted on and got not only the release of key dissidents but equally demanded, and received, live air time on Chinese state-run TV. Despite many technical tricks played on Clinton and Bush, there was at least a measured audience.
Though itÕs not the role of the American president to lecture the Chinese people on political systems, it is equally incumbent not to hide from the universal issues of human rights and freedoms. Despite being one of the worldÕs oldest and proudest civilizations, this does not grant ChinaÕs rulers the mandate to suppress its population.
On economic issues ObamaÕs team was equally sidetracked on issues of the overvalued Chinese currency, the Yuan. Pressures on Beijing to revalue the Yuan to a more market-based rate fell on deaf ears too. As a counterpoint, Hu derided protectionism and new American tariffs on Chinese-produced tires and steel pipe.
Regarding key global security issues particularly the nuclear proliferation by the Islamic Republic of Iran, did not seem to unduly phase the PRC rulers. Hu Jintao spoke of resolving the Iranian proliferation Òthough dialogue and negotiations.Ó This is the same old tune which allows Tehran time to continue its research and development. Now as the Obama administration is ratcheting up pressures on Iran to come clean on its nuclear status we confront the stark reality that the UN Security Council process could take diplomats down a dead-end street. Given that the PRC is a veto holding member of the Security Council, any tough sanctions or political enforcement actions against Tehran are for all practical purposes stillborn without BeijingÕs support.
In the case of nuclear-armed North Korea, after all Mainland ChinaÕs neighbor, thereÕs more eagerness to solve the simmering crisis but not necessarily by WashingtonÕs playbook, namely of ratcheting up wider economic sanctions on the Pyongyang regime. Here too BeijingÕs veto on the UN Security Council can easily block any meaningful action against North KoreaÕs nuclear ambitions.
Later a rigid and managed Ònews conference,Ó without questions or interaction between Obama and Hu, both presidents looked decidedly uncomfortable. And while a number of agreements of a technical and educational nature were reached, the overtone of the summit was pleasant but the results were unfortunately few.
An obvious question arises; why canÕt the U.S. press the PRC on key economic and security issues? The answer may be quite simple. Given that Beijing holds $800 billion plus of American debt, and the U.S. Congress remains on a hyper-spending spree, is it wise for Washington to engage in political polemics with its largest creditor?