U.S. Changing Tone on China (TAIWAN)

Barely in office for a month, President Barack Obama has redefined the United States' China policy — no longer placing human rights concerns above pressing strategic issues.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded her first official visit to Beijing Sunday, seeking help to steady the world economy and to steer North Korea back toward negotiations aimed at ending its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Clinton barely touched on the human rights topic; and Taiwan was not even mentioned in her three-day talks. She told media in Beijing Saturday that U.S. concerns over human rights in China could not preclude her from seeking cooperation on urgent issues, from ending a recession in the U.S. to curbing climate change, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Pressing China's leaders on issues such as Tibet and religious freedom “can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate crisis and the security crisis” in Afghanistan, for example, where China's help is indispensable, she said.

To re-establish America as a trusted great power, Washington needs to listen, learn and lead. Thus far, the report card shows that the Obama administration has underscored the importance of one of America's closest allies, Canada, with the president's first international trip last week. Obama has also acknowledged the growing role of Asia in global affairs with his secretary of state's visit to Japan, Indonesia, Korea and China, also last week.

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