Obama - We do not seek to Contain China's Rise

by albertacowpoke | November 16, 2009 at 03:54 am

409 views | 49 Recommendations | 39 comments

President Obama during his visit to China, tried to reassure Chinese officials that the United States in no way was trying to impede China's rise as an economic power. "We do not seek to contain China's rise", he said.

He also seemed to prod the Chinese government to loosen controls on the internet. China strongly controls internet use of about 250 Million internet users.

"I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable," Obama said Monday during a town hall meeting with students in Shanghai. "They can begin to think for themselves."

While Obama addressed some minor issues, he made no mention of Human Rights abuses in Tibet. He clearly did not want to offend the Chinese Leadership. Recently a visit by the Dalai Lama was postponed until after the China visit.

Obama also addressed and audience of Chinese students. According to reports, the students were carefully selected and were members of China's Communist Party. The students were briefed and told to be polite.

U.S. President Barack Obama, on his first state visit to China, on Monday urged the country to loosen up its control of the internet.

"I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable," Obama said Monday during a town hall meeting with students in Shanghai. "They can begin to think for themselves."

Obama's remark was seen as a prodding of the Chinese government, which tightly controls the access of the country's estimated 250 million internet users.

"I'm a big supporter of non-censorship," Obama said. "I recognize that different countries have different traditions. I can tell you that in the United States, the fact that we have free internet — or unrestricted internet access — is a source of strength, and I think should be encouraged."

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aurealeus

at 06:05 on November 16th, 2009

I think this headline should read:

OBAMA - BOWS TO CHINA INTERESTS

albertacowpoke

at 06:06 on November 16th, 2009

Thanks for you comments aurealeus, there was a story last night with bowing in Japan. Thanks for your recommendation though:)

aurealeus

at 06:19 on November 16th, 2009

YW...... I read and commented on that story also.

It appears that "bowing" is on the "rise" these days where America is concerned. My take is that bowing is not necessarily in deference towards the individual nation or leader being bowed to, but the gestures of bowing to the Sudi King and Japan's Emporor and now a passive stance on competition for world markets in regards to his recent statement "We do not seek to contain China's rise" could be part of the underlying larger picture, suggesting that America has become accepting of a unified global nation.

albertacowpoke

at 06:19 on November 16th, 2009

You may be onto something here.

snuffysmith

at 06:20 on November 16th, 2009

China-U.S. discord on currencies clouds Obama visit -- Reuters
Currency rift with China casts shadow on Obama's trade hopes -- Globe And Mail
Dollar under pressure as Obama tours China -- Reuters
China’s Role as Lender Alters Obama’s Visit -- New York Times
President Obama will urge China to join US in ‘world leadership’ -- Times Online
Chinese students, netizens and shops welcome Obama to Shanghai -- L.A. Times

PIM of SPAIN

at 06:26 on November 16th, 2009

To be honest, Obama couldn't do anything else as bowing to the Chinese and the Japanese who each respectively for $2 trillion and $1 trillion are the US greatest creditors with US dollars that continues to reduce in intrinsic value every time.

albertacowpoke

at 06:45 on November 16th, 2009

Those are certainly defining issues for the relationship.

snuffysmith

at 06:29 on November 16th, 2009

Welcome, comrade Maobama
United States President Barack Obama visits Beijing as China is organizing a new world order based on economic independence and respecting cultural and political differences - a hierarchical change all nations can believe in. Beijing welcomes being classed as the US's "essential partner" and "competitor"; being competitive is second nature when you have been a major economic power for 18 of the past 20 centuries. - Pepe Escobar

albertacowpoke

at 06:45 on November 16th, 2009

Thanks very much snuffy for your comments.

PIM of SPAIN

at 06:43 on November 16th, 2009

In recent years, China has begun to flex its economic might. No longer content within the constraints of pure Communism, China has seen fit to dabble with Capitalist ventures.
Unfortunately, with a long history of Communist thought, few of China's business elite have been able to become successful in international business.
The Chinese government sponsored numerous business classes, and although this helped, the Chinese wanted a better way to get ahead. Maybe Chinese government should invite US entrepreneurs to teach them old style real capitalism, if they still do know about and still are around in the US?

albertacowpoke

at 06:50 on November 16th, 2009

Maybe we can find some for them? I understand some are leaving due to bonus money:)

aurealeus

at 06:58 on November 19th, 2009

On July 1, 1997, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial rule. Since then, it appears that China began embracing HK-styled capitalism and flexing "its economic might."

I'm not sure I would agree with the statement; "...few of China's business elite have been able to become successful in international business" whereby China seems to have been very successful in flooding the American as well as other International Markets with cheap products recently, as well as opening the door to numerous International Business Ventures thereby helping to boost the Chinese Economy to world financial dominance over the last decade or so.

PIM of SPAIN

at 07:03 on November 16th, 2009

Let them understand what kind of people I do have in mind. Pure full blood entrepreneurs and not the corporate clowns, or loan slaves that sit the largest part of their time behind the desk and TV eating hamburgers and snacks while drinking alcoholic and soft drinks. And even more ... not the class of over-bonused bankers you may have in mind.

albertacowpoke

at 07:06 on November 16th, 2009

Thank You for clarifying PIM:)

aurealeus

at 07:15 on November 16th, 2009

I'm not sure I understand what "Pure full blood entrepreneurs..." are?

I like to think of myself as a pure-full-blood entrepreneur and have owned my own successful non-corporate styled business in the past but I am currently now an unemployed wage-slave.

Would I be a candidate "to teach them old style real capitalism" and if not, could you please clarify what you have in mind?

rng

at 07:22 on November 16th, 2009

The Chinese businessmen making deals in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa. The guys getting infrastructure building deals in other nations like Cambodia and Pakistan. The guys getting mining rights etc etc. The Chinese businessmen, not high on profile, but high in international dealings.Taking the approach the protectionists in their falling towers seek to deny. Those Chinese businessmen, the ones gaing wealth for their country and exploiting resource to feed their economy. He means those, that exist in droves. China is far more than bankers, cheap toys and take outs. The more we deny the reality, the less chance we have of profiting in the game. That's who he means

aurealeus

at 07:34 on November 16th, 2009

Thank you rng. I understand and agree with your analysis! I was feigning ignorance hoping to prompt a definition from PIM but yours will suffice as clarification.

Hugh Askew

at 07:38 on November 16th, 2009

Doesn't hurt having slave labor back home in dear old China to keep costs down either.

Yes, the Chinese are very good at "exploiting resource to feed their economy".

rng

at 07:44 on November 16th, 2009

Doesn't hurt either that they just won a major contract to build dams in Pakistan earning them millions while the US with one hand gives the Pakistanis money and with the other attacks them with drones. There are dozens of examples on this. Want another, while we pour billions into Iraq the biggest deal to refine oil went to China not us. We are smart-mouthed frequently, internationally smart very occassionally

aurealeus

at 07:51 on November 16th, 2009

Not much different to the wage-slave mentality in America where wages have not risen for the last couple of decades in keeping with the cost-of-living and inflation while Wall Street pads its pockets.

But I agree, slave-labor is more of a major problem in China, not to mention the absence of restrictive child-labor laws and minimum wage and working standards to provide a substainable living.

snuffysmith

at 11:08 on November 16th, 2009

I always viewed China as the land of one billion capitalists.

rng

at 07:17 on November 16th, 2009

The USA does not exist in a vacuum It is global, inter-connected and cross leveraged. Unilateral arrogance? See Bush era - actions and results. Wake up, smell the coffee we are better served by leveraging not arrogantly belittling other nations. The world changed while you were rereading the constitution for clues to the future

albertacowpoke

at 07:30 on November 16th, 2009

I certainly agree that unilateralism gets you nowhere. You must agree though that protectionism is heard loud and clear in the halls of congress. It was included in the TARP bill. Hopefully that sentiment is short term.

rng

at 07:37 on November 16th, 2009

Sadly ACP you are right.I commented the other day for example how short-sighted the tariffs on Chinese tires was. Firstly, the major investors in those factories are US tire manufacturers who are trying to make a buck as domestic market share drops - so the tariff directly hurts Americans. Secondly, that tit for tat responses are possible so nobody wins. Protectionism is an example of nationalistic fervor misplaced in the global reality. At first blush, it makes a patriot feel good to close the border, however, it is economic suicide. Every scientific study shows that economies that have healthy international trade thrive, and those with closed borders fail. Yet you see comments on this site every day - internationalism is bad, seal the borders, It scares me that level of misconception still prevails in certain sectors

aurealeus

at 07:40 on November 16th, 2009

Again I agree for the most part where global trade is concerned but that does not mean that Amercia cannot compete for the future as it always has in the past in order to remain a leader.

Constitution and arrogance has nothing to do with it.

rng

at 07:47 on November 16th, 2009

It is lazy shorthand. The constant rereading of the constitution implies an internal focus. We are analyzing the lint in our navel, other nations are not. Yes we need to get out there and compete. See my earlier comment on Pakistan and Iraq as two examples of multitudes of our ability to shout the world needs to bow to us while they nod and make themselves richer while we buy Sarah Palin's book and expect to find wisdom there. We need to focus outwards for our benefit, and not inwards which benefits them

aurealeus

at 08:13 on November 16th, 2009

I don't understand why the Constitution keeps getting interjected into the discussion. Except for your comments rng, nobody has implied that international or trade with China was unconstitutional. To reiterate, the Constitution has nothing to do with international trade and has not been represented by my comments, or by anybody else here as being so.

No Sarah Palin fan here. We need to focus outwards AND inwards for our benefit, in my opinion.

rng

at 08:26 on November 16th, 2009

I am using the constitution as a figurative not literal term.

The point I was attempting to make is as you say, we need to focus out not in. While it is admirable to have national pride, it serves us poorly if that turns into unilateral arrogance or xenophobia. Face out, not in and take what is the best of America into the world socially and commercially

aurealeus

at 08:34 on November 16th, 2009

Actually, I am saying we need to do BOTH as stated in my previous comment but that's beside the point since I think we are pretty much in agreement in regards to trading with our worldly neighbors. My main concern is the potential for global governance and financial domination by the world's financial elite and the banksters if America (and other nations) is not careful... but that's fodder for another story.

PIM of SPAIN

at 08:59 on November 16th, 2009

To answer Aurelius question about "Pure full blood entrepreneurs...":

This wrote tikun to me under my essay about wealth creation:

"Wealth accumulation is driven by having the temperament or as they say in the Bronx, balls, to make your own brakes and be as independent as possible.

Most of all, LISTEN to the needs of the people around you.

LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS.

Enjoy your work and have fun doing it.

Oh I forgot to mention the luck that is sprinkled into the mix.

Put away some money every week and let it work for you. Having your own business is risky and often lonely but for me it doesn't come close to working for others. Not to say that being employed isn't righteous.

Put all this into the mix and just maybe the outcome will be plenty. Someone once said that you do not have to have a million dollars to live like a millionaire. I finally understood what he meant by it."

and this I wrote back:

A very true advice Tikun you gave. It shows you do have the real entrepreneurial blood in your vanes. People without won't be able to create wealth unless they are crooks amongst them the ones that 'walk' Wall Street. The only enemy of an entrepreneur is envy, others see your wealth, but not the loneliness in your decisions and successes and the 100+ hours you put into your business every week.

"PIM, you understand.

It is like an actor finally making the "big" time and people thinking how lucky he/she was. Not realizing that this soul spent years of his/her life working, studying endlessly and pinching pennies in order to get this break. For every one chosen thousands are never heard from.

Witnessing first hand the false starts and stops along the way. The rug being pulled from underneath you and the endless promises that come to naught. In spite of all this you plug away happily working those long hours and even enjoying it most of the time in order to be your own boss. Then just maybe you find some success and enjoy the fruits of your own labor. "

Hope you may be able to judge for yourself whether you are in this category aureleus.