[kscoyote]

Transpacifica » Obama on China: ‘Neither Our Enemy Nor Our Friend’
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Senator Obama, what are America’s three most important allies around the world?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, I think the European Union as a whole has been a long-standing ally of ours. And through NATO, we’ve been able to make some significant progress. Afghanistan, in particular, is an area where we should be focusing. NATO has made real contributions there. Unfortunately, because of the distraction of Iraq, we have not finished the job in terms of making certain that we are driving back the Taliban, stabilizing the Karzai government, capturing bin Laden and making sure that we’ve rooted out terrorism in that region. We also have to look east, because increasingly the center of gravity in this world is shifting to Asia. Japan has been an outstanding ally of ours for many years, but obviously China is rising, and it’s not going away. They’re neither our enemy nor our friend. They’re competitors. But we have to make sure that we have enough military-to-military contact and forge enough of a relationship with them that we can stabilize the region. That’s something I’d like to do as president.

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Senator Obama “Condemns” China’s Use of Force in Tibet » Tibet Will Be Free

I am deeply disturbed by reports of a crackdown and arrests ordered by Chinese authorities in the wake of peaceful protests by Tibetan Buddhist monks. I condemn the use of violence to put down peaceful protests, and call on the Chinese government to respect the basic human rights of the people of Tibet, and to account for the whereabouts of detained Buddhist monks.

These events come on the 49th anniversary of the exile of the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama. They demonstrate the continuing frustration of the Tibetan people at the way in which Beijing has ruled Tibet. [...]

Tibet should enjoy genuine and meaningful autonomy. [...] Now is the time to respect the human rights and religious freedom of the people of Tibet.

On the whole, this was a strong statement, definitely more powerful than the the tepid official U.S. reaction. Thank you, Senator Obama.

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http://www.chinalawblog.com/2007/12/...t_aint_so.html

Barack Obama has called for a BAN on Chinese toy imports into the United States. My first thought upon hearing this was that there must have been some mistake. Now that I realize Mr. Obama actually said this, I am left merely to wonder whether Mr. Obama completely fails to understand world trade or if he is simply calling for this ban as the ultimate in political pandering.

Three months ago, in an interview with Forbes Magazine, I was quoted as saying, "China right now is the current bugaboo."

[tripleblack]

Obama's recent stance (since March, at least) vs China is pretty sound. His position on their abuses against Tibet is in line with American policy, and agrees with my own views, though slightly more simply spoken than might be proper for the exercise of official policy. I would like to see far more detail and fewer flowery phrases, but its (like many of his policy or stump speeches) not badly constructed. IS there a promise to vigorously enforce American trade and immigration law (a key problem with the Chinese second only to the Mexicans) in there? If so, its well-concealed.

Complimenting the host country of the Olympics is an age-old tradition. I am personally impressed by the clear amount of effort and raw WORK that was expended by China in this regard. Beijing's people and artists can be proud!

Still.. Gauging ALL of China by the showpiece Olympics and a de-industrialized Beijing is no more accurate, though, than gauging all of America by rush-hour Newark.

When 80% of Chinese still don't have access to electricity in their homes, its hard to admire their national infrastructure that much.