Beijing Frosty to Hillary Clinton's Long March

Hillary Clinton with Chinese Foreign Secretary Yang Jiechi
(photo from the Telegraph)

Hillary Clinton's swan song tour of Asia, timed to get her out of the United States during the Democratic National Convention, took a surprisingly problematic turn during her visit to the People's Republic of China. Her hosts turned what were presumed routine diplomatic meetings into politically challenged events. According to a Washington Post story about Mrs. Clinton's visit, a meeting with the Chinese foreign minister, scheduled for one hour, ended up being a feisty four-hour-plus encounter.

There's plenty of material here to indulge some speculation about Sino-American relations. Right now, China is in the midst of a leadership change. It's not a fight for the faint of heart. In that context, strong language toward the United States plays well behind the Great Wall. The Chinese also share the uncertainty over who will win the American presidential election. It is, from that perspective, a reasonable time to let Obama and Mitt Romney know China's concerns and willingness to assert itself.

The Chinese are also quite conscious of the current political season's round of China bashing. It has to be annoying to hear American politicians blame the US' economic ills on Chinese currency manipulation, while knowing Beijing remains the largest holder of our country's government bonds.

However, the People's Republic of China that's on the rise remains an undesirable model for global leadership. Its secrecy, suspicion of personal freedom, and economic servitude are definitely not exportable. No one wants that, and no one should. Like it or not, only the United States has the moral clout and economic foundation to offer something more than what China's long march into a grim, oppressive future promises.

While America watches Bill Clinton's speech at the Democratic convention, the world watches Secretary of State Clinton's visit to China. There's a lot at stake.