Wrong policy advice

History is replete with examples of wrong counsel derailing policymaking. Dan Blumenthal may not be a hugely important policy analyst but his advice poses such a threat to new US president Barack Obama's China policy. In his article in Tuesday's Washington Times, Blumenthal calls on President Obama to bring in "change we can believe in" regarding the US' China strategy.

He criticizes the US for engaging China "at any price", which he believes has subordinated concerns about human rights, Taiwan and military build-up. The change he advocates is for Obama to help China join the club of "democracies" by speaking directly to the Chinese people about "universal" notions of "liberty, justice and transparency".

Blumenthal seems unaware that not every departure from George W. Bush may be good for the new administration. Irrespective of what Bush has left for Obama - economic slowdown, wreckage from two wars and bitter international relations, strengthened China-US ties may be his biggest gift.