.China hopes for continuity as Clinton visits
BEIJING (AP) - President Barack Obama is charting a new course with Iraq and Afghanistan. He's seeking a more active U.S. approach in Pakistan and the Middle East.
When it comes to China, however, it appears to be business as usual. And as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes her first visit as secretary of state this weekend, that's exactly what China wants.
Chinese officials are hoping for signs of continuity in the relationship, which was nonconfrontational and even collegial during George W. Bush's second term.
"We think relations will remain basically stable and don't expect or hope for any major changes," said Zhu Feng, director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies at Peking University.
Clinton is due to arrive in Beijing on Friday evening at the end of a weeklong trip to Asia that also has included Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.
Her early remarks on China have set a mild tone. The U.S. needs a "positive and cooperative" relationship with Beijing, she told lawmakers at her confirmation hearing last month.
In a speech at the Asia Society in New York on Sunday, she vowed not to shy away from discussing human rights but stressed that Washington has a "very broad agenda to deal with when it comes to dealing with China."
The last two American presidents - Bush and Bill Clinton - entered office promising to take a firmer line toward Beijing. Yet both left office having backed away in favor of a more conciliatory policy.
The growing interdependence between China and the United States has narrowed the scope for radical policy shifts.
China's economy depends heavily on exports to the United States. And China helps fund the U.S. government's budget deficit. Last year, it surpassed Japan as the largest foreign holder of Treasuries.
China is also an important partner in the six-party talks to try to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
Early criticism of China's exchange rate policy by Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner seemed to signal that Obama might take a tougher approach.
Yet, the White House has since sought to play down their comments and has denied increasing friction with China.
The United States also sat out a heated United Nations review of China's human rights record last week.
Still, China remains wary of the United States and will be rigorously scrutinizing Clinton's comments for any signs of change on contentious issues such as Taiwan and Tibet, trade, human rights and climate change.
The trip will be evaluated more for the tone it sets than any single achievement, Chinese analysts say.
"There's a lot of common ground but also the chance of conflicts, so Clinton's visit is key for creating the atmosphere for the future China-U.S relationship," Zhu said.
Clinton is well-known in China and generally well-regarded for the positive tone her husband set for ties during his presidency. She is expected to choose Kurt Campbell, an Asia adviser in Bill Clinton's administration, as her assistant secretary for East Asia.
"Clinton's staff picks and her choice of Asia for her first trip show she understands the region's importance to the U.S., and within those relationships, U.S.-China ties are key," said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at People's University in Beijing.
He predicted that both sides would seek to emphasize the positive in this encounter.
"As it's Hillary's first visit, disputes will probably be left for later," Shi said.
MyWay
When it comes to China, however, it appears to be business as usual. And as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes her first visit as secretary of state this weekend, that's exactly what China wants.
Chinese officials are hoping for signs of continuity in the relationship, which was nonconfrontational and even collegial during George W. Bush's second term.
"We think relations will remain basically stable and don't expect or hope for any major changes," said Zhu Feng, director of the Center for International and Strategic Studies at Peking University.
Clinton is due to arrive in Beijing on Friday evening at the end of a weeklong trip to Asia that also has included Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.
Her early remarks on China have set a mild tone. The U.S. needs a "positive and cooperative" relationship with Beijing, she told lawmakers at her confirmation hearing last month.
In a speech at the Asia Society in New York on Sunday, she vowed not to shy away from discussing human rights but stressed that Washington has a "very broad agenda to deal with when it comes to dealing with China."
The last two American presidents - Bush and Bill Clinton - entered office promising to take a firmer line toward Beijing. Yet both left office having backed away in favor of a more conciliatory policy.
The growing interdependence between China and the United States has narrowed the scope for radical policy shifts.
China's economy depends heavily on exports to the United States. And China helps fund the U.S. government's budget deficit. Last year, it surpassed Japan as the largest foreign holder of Treasuries.
China is also an important partner in the six-party talks to try to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
Early criticism of China's exchange rate policy by Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner seemed to signal that Obama might take a tougher approach.
Yet, the White House has since sought to play down their comments and has denied increasing friction with China.
The United States also sat out a heated United Nations review of China's human rights record last week.
Still, China remains wary of the United States and will be rigorously scrutinizing Clinton's comments for any signs of change on contentious issues such as Taiwan and Tibet, trade, human rights and climate change.
The trip will be evaluated more for the tone it sets than any single achievement, Chinese analysts say.
"There's a lot of common ground but also the chance of conflicts, so Clinton's visit is key for creating the atmosphere for the future China-U.S relationship," Zhu said.
Clinton is well-known in China and generally well-regarded for the positive tone her husband set for ties during his presidency. She is expected to choose Kurt Campbell, an Asia adviser in Bill Clinton's administration, as her assistant secretary for East Asia.
"Clinton's staff picks and her choice of Asia for her first trip show she understands the region's importance to the U.S., and within those relationships, U.S.-China ties are key," said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at People's University in Beijing.
He predicted that both sides would seek to emphasize the positive in this encounter.
"As it's Hillary's first visit, disputes will probably be left for later," Shi said.
MyWay
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