Hu Jintao's Visit May Be More Show Than Substance

At LAT, "Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit with Obama may be more show than substance":

When Chinese President Hu Jintao visits America's industrial heartland this week, he'll demonstrate why President Obama will have a tough time winning concessions on economic issues creating friction between the world's two largest economies.

In advance of formal meetings between the leaders, which begin in Washington on Wednesday, the administration has signaled that Beijing must get serious about halting Chinese theft of American intellectual property, eliminating barriers to U.S. imports and revaluing China's currency.

But Hu's planned visit to the Chicago area Thursday represents an attempt to turn the tables on Washington — at least in terms of public perception. Thanks to a relative handful of Chinese investments in U.S. companies there and in other parts of the Midwest, Beijing can argue that it is helping to bring economic renewal to a region long plagued by decline.

In effect, Hu will be saying, "Look here. Despite all your complaints, we're not a problem for the U.S. economy. We're actually creating and sustaining jobs right here in America."

In parts of Illinois at least, Hu's message is likely to be well received. Chicago has a sister city relationship with Shanghai, and Chicago-area companies including the parent company of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, Boeing Co., McDonald's Corp. and Motorola are deeply embedded in China, heightening the perception of mutually beneficial ties between the countries.

The message is likely to be well received in China as well. Washington's complaints have stirred popular anger over what is seen as an attempt to deny China its rightful place as a world power.

"Hu's job is to re-brand China," said Minxin Pei, a China specialist who directs the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.

It won't be easy. Outside of purchases of U.S. bonds, China invested an estimated $6.2 billion in U.S.-based companies, real estate and other assets last year, according to Derek Scissors, a China expert at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. That's a blip compared with the projected $275-billion trade surplus China enjoyed with this country.

More at the link.

Rightful place as a world power?

If Obama bows to Hu I'm gonna puke. Because let's face it, China needs the U.S. consumer market as much as we love Chinese products --- there's mutual vulnerability interdependence --- and given the stakes surrounding regional issues where China's power is becoming more important (the Koreas), why get too soft and squishy?

Lots of stuff at Foreign Policy, especially, Richard McGregor: "5 Myths About the Chinese Communist Party." And I'm getting a kick out of this: "China's Intimidation at the U.N."