Obama and Hu fed up

[nmbluesky]

Obama, Hu spar over human rights; hail economic ties
Chinese President Hu Jintao acknowledged Wednesday that "a lot still needs to be done" to improve human rights conditions in his country, an issue that President Obama said has been "a source of tension between our two governments."
In an extraordinary exchange of views during a 68-minute press conference, Hu was asked twice to respond to questions about human rights violations in China, such as the continued imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. He said his government "recognizes and also respects the universality of human rights" but cited "different national circumstances."

The press conference didn't include simultaneous translation, forcing the leaders to pause frequently for translators during their remarks. At first, Hu didn't answer a question on human rights; later, he said it was because he had not heard it.

"A lot still needs to be done in China in terms of human rights," Hu said. "We will continue our efforts to improve the lives of the Chinese people, and we will continue our efforts to promote democracy and the rule of law in our country."

Obama didn't comment on Liu's inability to pick up his Nobel Prize, the same one Obama won in 2009. But he said he had been "very candid with President Hu about these issues," adding, "That frank and candid assessment on our part will continue."

"We've agreed to move ahead with our formal dialogue on human rights," Obama said. "We've agreed to new exchanges to advance the rule of law."

The two leaders also addressed — and sometimes disagreed on — economic issues that have divided them in the past, notably Chinese trade barriers and currency manipulation that lowers the price of Chinese exports to the United States and inflates the cost of U.S. goods in China.

Obama said the under-valuing of the renminbi, or yuan, is just "part of the problem." In response to Hu's assertion of a "win-win" economic relationship, Obama called for a "level playing field" on trade so that it doesn't become a "win-lose situation."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-19-obama-hu-us-china-relations_N.htm

[David__77]

1. China is a friend to the US, if the US lets it be.

Obama is clearly more friendly to China than Bush was, although many self-described progressives seems anti-China in a McCarthyite way.

[jaysunb]

2. Hu, said as much himself

in what I thought was a positive outreach to the reality of where there world is today.

[Jeneral2885]

3. and why can't it be the other way around

Hu asking Obama why isnt Guantanmo shut? Why is there no investigation into the claims of clandestine paramilitary squads in Afghanistan? Why have you not persecuted Bush and Co. for the violation of international law?