Obama Takes a Unique Approach in the Orient
Lucas Hernandez
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: News
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Although his stops to Japan, Singapore and South Korea held great implications for various foreign policy initiatives, no stop was more important than his visit to China, where the two most significant issues discussed were the economy and human rights.
China is not only one of the most rapidly growing economic centers of the world, but it also has a great amount of money invested in the U.S.
Earlier in the year, top Chinese officials had very critical things to say regarding the United States' handling of the financial crisis, and this criticism continued during Obama's visit.
The "blunt talk" regarding the U.S. economy by Chinese officials was the key talking point for Obama and his team, as the U.S. pays $56 billion in interest to China on its $860 billion debt, and China has been and still is the number one lender to the U.S.
Many people in Washington were pushing for China to allow its currency to rise against the dollar.
This would greatly affect the worth of U.S. goods in China; the price of these goods would be cheaper, making the goods more accessible and profitable.
This would, in turn, greatly benefit the economy and the U.S. market in China.
This situation did not afford President Obama much leverage, and, as a whole, resulted in a weak stance by Obama and his team. This passivity was not President Obama's fault, but rather a tribute to China's strength.
One of the most controversial issues within U.S.-China relations is human rights in China.
President Obama did not shy away from the issue of human rights, as he discussed the issue with Chinese students and government officials during his visit.
In a town hall meeting with nearly 400 students from eight Chinese universities in attendance, President Obama called himself "a big supporter of non-censorship." He then went into great detail about his support for the Internet as a tool for freedom of speech and empowerment for citizens. A noticeable omission from his discussion was the Chinese conflict with Tibet.
The issue of Tibet has been the main talking point for many presidents before Obama. Leaving out the issue has been marked as both a smart and a mindless move.
One thing, however, is certain; President Obama is crafting his own unique strategy to approaching China. Whether or not this strategy will change U.S.-China relations, or human rights in China remains to be seen.
Considering the tricky position he was in, President Obama did a good job in creating a framework for cooperation between the two superpowers.
This is vital, as bilateral ties between the two nations have never been more important for the peace and prosperity of the world community.
Throughout his visit, President Obama made a point to say that the U.S. has no intention of slowing down or containing the growth of China.
This was important for China officials to hear, because there are many hard liners both within and outside the Chinese government who insist that the U.S. is trying to undermine China and impede its progress.
President Obama greatly departed from the stances of previous presidents who looked at China as a "tacit ally" against the Soviet Union, and as a "strategic competitor," as at the beginning of President George W. Bush's administration. He instead pushed a very moderate and cooperative stance with China.
It is clear that Obama understands the enormous presence China has in all U.S. affairs, both domestically and abroad.
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