Obama on the back foot in China
Barack Obama played up the points about China's progress in all fields. He played down the areas of Human Rights, Tibet, Iran, Korea and Islamist terror. Perhaps he wanted the bigger picture to be one of friendship and cooperation.
THE US administration had not expected that "waters would part," said Robert Gibbs, White House press Secretary. Fine, but there were no ripples in the water either. An independent observer of the biggest diplomatic show on earth staged in Shanghai and Beijing for two and-a-half days, with two most powerful men on this planet playing the leading roles, would come up with a one liner - was it worth all the expense and hype? The United States has not lost any money but the People's Republic of China has gained a halo and is now holding the centre stage. The Red flag is fluttering in the morning breeze but the Stars and Stripes is gasping as its life line is choked.
America is known as a champion of democratic values, including basic Human Rights. America's bedrock belief that all human beings have fundamental human rights could not be translated into ameliorating the hardships of the Tibetan people who are groaning under Chinese despotic rule. A mere reference to opening a dialogue with Dalai Lama's representatives would not wipe the tears from Tibetan eyes. The American President made a feeble effort in this respect that would be termed as an eye wash. It has not brought any cheer to a Tibetan face.
Comparisons with the Clinton visit are quite natural. The on stage jibes between Clinton and Jiang Zemin, the two main players then, were just missing this time between Obama and Hu. Pro-Obama commentators are going gaga over the Shanghai meeting with Chinese students. We must not forget that the emphasis on a free access to the Internet was not telecast for entire China. Just Shanghai was a beneficiary.
The remaining parts of the country got blurred pictures and poor audio with frequent breaks minus the trump card, namely free access to the Internet both ways. Moreover, the interaction was choreographed by the Chinese authorities to suit their closed society. The concept of a town hall type meeting as suggested by the Obama Administration was thrown to the winds by the Beijing Mandarins. The Chinese were the clear winners in this boxing bout where Americans were expected to come out with flying colours. Like a referee, one may say "very well fought the green, red the winner."
Let us move to Beijing where it is understood that Obama minced no words in letting the Chinese know what was what. Let us understand at the start that the Chinese people and their leadership are enigmatic. They keep on smiling through the dialogue and spit fire at the end in a communiqué, if there is one.
Barrack Obama played up the points about China's progress in all fields. He played down the areas of Human Rights, Tibet, Iran, Korea and Islamist terror. Perhaps he wanted the bigger picture to be one of friendship and cooperation. Let us not forget that the USA owes a debt to China amounting a trillion US dollars. America needs China as a trading partner as their trade has grown seven times since Clinton's visit to Beijing. America may need China in facilitating her exit from Afghanistan in a graceful way.
The Chinese also responded to the little niceties by playing the tunes that were real music to American ears. With Obama and Hillary Clinton sitting on either side of Hu Jintao at the state banquet on Tuesday night, the People's Liberation Army band chose to play "I just called to say I LOVE YOU", In the Mood and We are the World. Indeed music puts one in the mood to say sweet nothings when diplomatic bargaining is tough.
One may safely say that in the diplomatic parleys America was not a loser but the winning points were indeed scored by China.
Let us move to Beijing where it is understood that Obama minced no words in letting the Chinese know what was what. Let us understand at the start that the Chinese people and their leadership are enigmatic. They keep on smiling through the dialogue and spit fire at the end in a communiqué, if there is one.
Barrack Obama played up the points about China's progress in all fields. He played down the areas of Human Rights, Tibet, Iran, Korea and Islamist terror. Perhaps he wanted the bigger picture to be one of friendship and cooperation. Let us not forget that the USA owes a debt to China amounting a trillion US dollars. America needs China as a trading partner as their trade has grown seven times since Clinton's visit to Beijing. America may need China in facilitating her exit from Afghanistan in a graceful way.
The Chinese also responded to the little niceties by playing the tunes that were real music to American ears. With Obama and Hillary Clinton sitting on either side of Hu Jintao at the state banquet on Tuesday night, the People's Liberation Army band chose to play "I just called to say I LOVE YOU", In the Mood and We are the World. Indeed music puts one in the mood to say sweet nothings when diplomatic bargaining is tough.
One may safely say that in the diplomatic parleys America was not a loser but the winning points were indeed scored by China.
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