By The Kansas City Star Editorial Board
When Hillary Clinton made her first visit to Beijing as secretary of state, she remarked that human rights could not be permitted to “interfere” with larger concerns, such as global climate change and financial-market mayhem.
It was an unfortunate way for the new administration to begin its relationship with China. Sadly, this week President Obama only reinforced the message.
In a formal appearance with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Obama mentioned that he had talked with Hu about human rights. He noted that Americans believe all people possess fundamental liberties that should be available to everyone, including religious and ethnic minorities.
Yet Obama passed up opportunities to make his point more forcefully. He shied away from contact with dissidents, representatives of Chinese human rights groups and even ordinary Chinese.
Asked by a reporter about China’s censorship of the Internet, he answered with a reference to America’s vigorous political debates, but didn’t criticize China directly. Even that subdued response was nixed by Chinese censors.
The two powers agreed to cooperate on the economy, military relations and climate change but there weren’t any breakthroughs. Washington needs Chinese help on North Korea and Iran, but little progress was made on those fronts.
Outwardly, the relationship continued as it has — complicated and somewhat contentious on the surface, with an underlying, if surprising, stability.
But Obama’s visit was a kind of test. No doubt the Beijing leadership, striving to carve out a sphere of influence in Asia, now mulls an interesting question: If Obama lacked the assertiveness to put more emphasis on human rights, where else might the U.S. give way?
Delicious
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The Grand Tour Continues...
the big 0, the messiah, the signer of the non-working porkulous bill is over his head.
No to human rights discussion, what does his America stand for????
less then 12 months of this insanity, less then 36 months of Jimmy II whose approval rating dropped to below 50% on its way to 37% next November.
????
And we are surprised by this because.....?
The World Apology Tour and his subservient bows to foreign potentates only serve to fuel contempt for our community organizer-turned president.
Hillary's "re-set button" fiasco didn't help nor did Obama's abrupt cancellation of the Eastern European missile defense system.
I could also add his non-response when the Iranians started killing their citizen protestors.
Yet he attempted a hard line on the Honduras situation.
Wonder why?
Foreign Policy? What foreign policy?
It's all seat-of-the-pants and to heck with protocol.
Makes Obama's folks look like buffoons.