Reflecting on Pres. Obama’s maiden voyage to the East Obama t-shirt at Shanghai bazaar. Photo: Flickr user Shazari Ambassador S. Azmat Hassan is a former Ambassador of Pakistan to Malaysia, Syria and Morocco and Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. He is currently an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University and is a contributing Worldfocus blogger. Obama’s first visit as president to China elicited considerable curiosity among the Chinese, but Obama could not expect the generally rapturous welcome he has received in Europe. The Chinese government saw to it that his visit was strictly controlled and choreographed. The student audience at the “town hall” meeting was made up of communist party members, who lobbed soft balls toward Obama. There was none of the raucousness or spontaneity one has come to expect in U.S. town hall meetings. Similarly, the official talks with a confident and assertive President Hu Jintao appeared to avoid contentious issues. Human rights, Taiwan and Tibet were soft-pedaled by Obama. To his questions on the adverse effects on US-China trade of the artificially pegged reminbi, the Chinese currency, Hu Jintao was evasive. Similarly, Obama got scant purchase out of him on Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. China is a major importer of Iranian oil and a major trading partner. China is an emerging super power poised to surpass the United States in the next few decades. Current estimates suggest that China’s will equal the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027 and in 2050 China’s GDP will be double that of the U.S. These astonishing figures — plus China’s foreign exchange reserves which stand at a staggering $2.27 trillion — indicate why China is enjoying the sunshine of success. The wind is certainly at its back. Meanwhile, the U.S. is indebted to China to the tune of almost $1 trillion, and rising. Worse still, the U.S. is borrowing largely from China and Japan at the rate of $2 billion per day. Perhaps our Wall Street trained economic managers think there will never be a reckoning for this dizzying profligacy initiated in the last 8 years. Granted, Obama is trying hard to stanch the hemorrhaging which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are causing to America’s resources, and the financial crisis of last year. Obama is trying to put the economy on an even keel. A key ingredient will be to head for the exits in these two countries sooner rather than prolonging the agony. Let’s hope and pray he succeeds. Meanwhile, a confident and assertive China has no need genuflect to the United States. If its march continues as predicted, the roles may be reversed. Let’s get our children motivated to learn Mandarin. That language is on track to replace English as the common language of diplomacy and commerce. We have to adjust to new realities. Reform or perish!
Reflecting on Pres. Obama’s Maiden Voyage to the East – November 23, 2009
- Home
- Reflecting on Pres. Obama’s Maiden Voyage to the East – November 23, 2009
contact@azmathassan.com
-
Suicide Attacks Remain Potent Tool for Pakistani Taliban – March 23, 2010
Suicide attacks remain potent tool for Pakistani Taliban A Pakistani soldier at the highest point in the Swat Valley....
-
Diplomatic Victory With Iran Staves Off Preemptive Attacks – October 6, 2009
Diplomatic victory with Iran staves off preemptive attacks Ambassador Azmat Hassan Azmat Hassan is a career diplomat and former...
-
Kashmiri Dispute Looms Large in Politics of South Asia – December 14, 2009
Kashmiri dispute looms large in politics of South Asia A de-miner near Srinagar, Kashmir. Photo: Flickr user Haumont Ambassador...
-
Hillary Clinton’s Message to Pakistan – November 2, 2009
Hillary Clinton’s message to Pakistan Hillary Clinton meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister. Photo: Flickr user americagov S. Azmat Hassan,...
-
U.S. Seeks Hearts and Minds in Combatting Global Jihad – January 11, 2010
U.S. seeks hearts and minds in combatting global jihad An American soldier in Kandahar. Photo: Flickr user Ambassador S....
-
Obama Ushers in 2010 With Bold Foreign Policy Agenda – December 28, 2009
Obama ushers in 2010 with bold foreign policy agenda President Obama delivering a speech. Photo: Flickr user Jurvetson Ambassador...
-
Drone Attacks Deaden Diplomatic Track in Pakistan – December 21, 2009
Drone attacks deaden diplomatic track in Pakistan A woman in Garhi Habibullah, Pakistan. Photo: Flickr user UNphoto Ambassador S....
-
Using Human Development as Antidote to Islamic Terrorism – January 4, 2010
Using human development as antidote to Islamic terrorism Alleged Christmas Day bomber when he was in Yemen. Photo: Al...