Obama 'trump card' to be China ambassador

BEIJING - He is the "trump card" in US President Barack Obama's ambitious plan to double exports by 2015; and Gary Locke has a niche in history as the first Chinese-American to serve as a US commerce secretary and state governor.

The combined background and business expertise seem to make Locke, whom Obama reportedly nominated to be the US ambassador to China, the perfect candidate.

Observers said the nomination, widely reported by the US media on Monday, underscores Washington's focus on ties with China, as it's the first time that a Cabinet member has been "demoted" to be ambassador to the country.