The Real G-2: Obama’s Historic Opportunity
Part of the reason is that the Chinese positions on these controversies are so different than America’s. Yet Beijing can be moved in constructive directions — but only when American diplomacy is tough and principled. Unfortunately, under Barack I-will-kneel-to-any-nearby-autocrat Obama, our policies are anything but.
For one thing, Obama gives the impression that he is above the Chicago street-style politics that the Chinese leadership practices. Instead, the former community organizer seems to have accepted the notion that the Chinese can be flattered into cooperation. Unfortunately, all Obama’s talk of the importance of China is having the opposite effect. When Jeffrey Bader, the president’s chief East Asia hand at the National Security Council, says China is an “essential player” and that none of the great issues of the day can be solved “without China’s cooperation,” the Chinese begin to think they have a veto over American policy. In these circumstances, they of course feel they can exact any price for their assent. Our approach to China, therefore, is undermining our goals, not furthering them.
None of this unhelpful rhetoric might matter if Obama had rallied Asians to balance an assertive China. He had the opportunity to do that on this trip during stopovers in Tokyo, Singapore, and Seoul, but he missed these chances. Instead of projecting confident American leadership, he let Asians think he is not up to standing firm against the increasingly arrogant Chinese.
That’s why Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington offers a crucial second chance for Mr. Obama. The Indians understandably worry that the president is showing a tilt — as well as a bow — to their arch adversaries, the Chinese and the Pakistanis. Obama, to his credit, has reserved his first state welcome to Singh, who he considers as “part of his family.” There will be a state dinner on Tuesday.
And ties between America and India should be that close. There are, to be sure, fundamental differences between the two nations. Don’t expect important agreements on climate change, nonproliferation, or trade. Yet two important democracies should be able to set aside disagreements and realize that their interests are — and should be — tied together in the long run. For one thing, both nations face challenges from the same authoritarian giant on the mainland of Asia. And when Chinese leaders see New Delhi and Washington growing closer, they will surely be more cooperative than they are at this moment.
If there is to be a G-2 in the world, it should not be the United States and China. It should be the world’s most populous democracy and its most powerful one. That’s an alliance we can believe in — and, in future years, one that we will depend upon.
for president obama-kennedy (httd – heir to the dynasty) this was a meeting of the 2 leading communist nations. the next nobel winner for economics also had a chance for a communist chinese cook the books course. look for fixed 8 percent gdp ala maddoff in your future.
“That’s why Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington offers a crucial second chance for Mr. Obama.”
Barack Obama will most assuredly further harm his relationship with Manmohan Singh. In his heart of hearts, our leftist president perceives all of America’s friends as disgusting. Our country is supposedly guilty of crapping on the poor and disenfranchised of the world. Thus, any friend of ours must also be despicable if not even outright evil. Only explicit enemies of the United States might be morally virtuous.
The present occupant of the White House is a self-hating American. He no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt. The evidence is overwhelming that this is indeed the harsh reality of the matter. Always expect the worse.
Mr. Chang what in the world possessed you into thinking that you; or anyone else could penetrate Barrack Hussein Obama’s skull?
Obama will make some kind of a mess, maybe even a huge, grand royal new Guinness World Record of a really sloppy mess when the Indian PM visits.
Maybe he will give him a special gift, like a magic flying carpet with a squeeze rubber bubble horn or a very pissed off snake stuffed inside a beer can.
Not to worry though, the mainstream media will suck up to and cover for Obama by concentrating on the magnificent job Congress is doing when it comes to wiping out the health care system of world’s most powerful democracy; soon to be used to be or has been.
The Obama administration is actually in fact and truly, a university student government: it looks like one, it thinks like one and it acts like one. It’s all amateur theatrics, pretend Broadway, with bowing and scraping to exotic visitors, like they do in the old photos in the documentaries shown at the Ivied halls of learnin’
Obama said he’s all down with the Pacific… and the poor clueless jughead completely forgot about India, sitting there, dominating everything south of the Hindu Kush. But then, as all current Western Civ courses note, India is a product of the British Empire which was Eeeevvvvillll. Plus, of course, India is not quite as INTERESTING and EXOTIC as China, what with Mao and food you just never experience in the USofA.
Lucky world.
Let’s see. . . . is India a communist nation or a friend of islam? Don’t think so. . . thus, the “o” could care less about relations with her.
where are the pictures???
juxtapose all the bowing/scraping against 0bama’s turned-up-nose while others are saluting the USA Flag………
sour grapes
The more I read Mr. Chang, the more I think he is secretly working for Beijing. He keeps fooling Americans to ignore global reality.
Barry Obama is a schoolboy and he thinks he likes communism. What do we expect him to do?
cleesburg, could you explain your theory? I am intrigued.
heathermc, you write: “The Obama administration is actually in fact and truly, a university student government.”
Yes, I agree.
India is a great potential ally. It’s a democracy, a trade partner, a strategic competitor to China, and on the right side on the war on terror (and in the same neighborhood). There are labor issues, but I’d rather have my computer made in India than China. Bush developed excellent relations with India and I hope Obama doesn’t screw that up.