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SUBTLE CHANGES IN US'S CHINA POLICY

Jian Junbo

Asia Times, November 20, 2009

XIAMEN, China - Since he was sworn in as United States president earlier this year, Barack Obama has kept his campaign promise of "change" in many areas of domestic and foreign policy. At the same time, observers say that when it comes to China, Obama has maintained the core of his predecessor's approach - communication and cooperation.

However, careful observation of Obama's first official visit to the Middle Kingdom this week reveals some subtle changes, if not in his policy principles then at least in the way Obama approaches China and the Chinese people.

Many Chinese feel flattered with what they saw as a more modest and friendly attitude by Obama towards China in his four-day visit. During his "town-hall" meeting with Chinese youths in Shanghai on Monday, Obama said America had much to learn from China and that "the notion we must be adversaries is not predestined".

When commenting on Chinese government restrictions on access to the Internet, Obama sidestepped direct criticism of Beijing, simply saying that he is a strong supporter of the free flow of information since it can help make governments more accountable.

The climax of Obama's China visit was his summit with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on Wednesday. A joint statement issued after the meeting shows the two leaders as very pragmatic in handling relations between their countries.

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