China Speakers Bureau: What wants Obama with China?

Shaun Rein by Fantake via Flickr

Shaun Rein tries to look behind US president Obama's policies on China in Forbes. He is not sure there is any.

The entire strategy seems to be to avoid angering the Chinese. What kind of policy is that? True, it's better not to humiliate and chastise China publicly. Disparaging it only empowers hard-liners there and makes progress harder. And of course it was wise to stay away from sensitive topics like Tibet. But it's absurd that the U.S. squandered an opportunity to push for core interests that the Chinese are less sensitive about, like efforts against Iran. Why weren't such things done?...

If Obama doesn't clearly define America's relationship with China soon, it will be defined by the likes of Paul Krugman and Rush Limbaugh or by congressmen looking to appear hard-line because they're worried they won't get re-elected.