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So What Was The Point Of President Obama’s Visit To China?

November 20, 2009

Obama China R.F.Wilson writes: Pardon me for asking, but waht was the point of President Barack Obama’s visit to China?

Apart from meeting the whole of the politburo of the Communist Party of China in person and having two dinners with them, forced to watch the abysmal Chinese folk dancing and singing during one of them. And, as some cynics are saying, apart from disappearing for a while from Washington where tough decisions need to be taken.

The whole visit seemed to be stage managed by the Chinese from the moment President Obama entered the country’s airspace. Even his much hyped ‘town hall’ meeting with Chinese students in Shanghai on the first day of his trip did not really look very impressive. The students were all carefully selected in advance, asked all the right questions and avoided deviating from the script. President Obama also stayed away from controversy and the most ‘explosive’ comment he made was telling the students, who watched him with fixed insincere smiles of young communist league members, that a free and unhampered Internet was a source of strength. The meeting was not broadcast on Chinese television and had very limited coverage even on the Chinese political websites, so very few people in China got to her the American guest.

And as for the state visit itself, it seemed that the Chinese communist leadership has probably worked out the details of the whole thing up to the very last nod, wink and smile. The say President Hu Jintao, who also holds the post of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China as well, is a control freak and treasures ‘stability’ most of all things, meaning that he does not like surprises and unexpected turns of events. Which probably explains the fact that Mr Obama was extremely timid during his stay in Beijing.

On balance the US President did not get anything from the Chinese. Neither on the currency, nor on the trade balance or the climate and not even on Iran. It was just like in the times of the Soviet Union when its leadership had a ‘no’ popping out of its collective mouth every time Western leaders paid a visit to Moscow. Not to mention that on this occasion the Chinese hosts did not even share a single joke with the Americans guests. The Chinese did not really need to overextend their hospitality, as this was the sort of occasion when the American President actually came to ask for help rather than mentor the Chinese. And, remarkably, they could say no and get away with it.

The White House, of course, had to put on a brave face and say that no one was expecting anything from the trip immediately. But then the question arose: why on earth did President Obama travel to China at all even though it was clear that Beijing was not planning to play ball with him? Is he that desperate or what?

Some people might say that Mr Obama was hoping to charm the Chinese into working closer with the US. But the charm offensive did not work, a fact that was picked up back home where the US President is facing mounting problems. The question that must be on everyone’s mind back in the US is: what was the point of the visit at all?

– End –

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