Day By Day November 17, 2009 – Smart Power
How did that Obama Townhall work yesterday in China?
Well, the Chinese government handpicked the participants and then blocked most of the transmission. The ol’ Obama teleprompter trick has been discovered. Somebody tell NBC News.
And, now the Chinese are questioning Obamacare and the huge financial impact on the American economy. Guess the Chinese have read about inflation and since they hold alot of American debt…….are worried about an American default.
With regards to the nuclearization of Iran, China has been NO help to the Obama Administration although a boilerplate announcement has been made.
President Obama has not come away with any commitments from the Chinese on how to deal with Iran over its disputed nuclear program during his visit to China this week, according to administration officials.
“I would not say that we got an answer today from the Chinese, nor did we expect one on the subject,†National Security Council official Jeffrey Bader told reporters in Beijing Tuesday.
But Bader and other officials made clear the Chinese have been on board for some time with the overall international approach to Iran, led by the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, or P5+1.
“I’m confident that whatever direction we choose to go, we need to go, towards the end of the year, that the Chinese will remain part of the unified P5+1 front,†he said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, however, is more immediately concerned about the threat of a nuclearized North Korea than he is about Iran; something he made clear in talks with Obama.
Part of the reason may be that with Iran, there are items that affect China’s own self-interest. The Chinese and Iran have strong ties in energy; China holds significant investments in both oil and gas in Iran.
President Obama = smart power in Asia?
Hardly…..
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