The Weekly Standard has an article by John Tkacik arguing that quietly, but inexorably, the Bush administration's stance on China has become significantly less accommodating.
What begun as the undiplomatic 'rooting' of the Red Chinese for a Kerry victory in the election was exacerbated by the passage in Peking last spring of the anti-secession law which many read as a 'shelf' casus belli with Taiwan. Belligerent acts toward Japan and Peking's unhelpful attitudes toward North Korea and nuclear proliferation in general have made the Bush administration feel that the likelihood of China becoming a strategic partner, or even neutral was far less likely than that of a strategic adversary.
Underscoring all of this is the absence of any significant strengthening in the yuan since it was taken off the peg - a scant 3%.
Tkacik, a former Foggy Bottom hand with extensive experience in Asia, thinks that President Hu Jintao could be in for a frosty reception during his scheduled visit in April.
About bloody time.
Read the whole article here.
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