As the 2012 presidential election approaches, the struggle between the Republicans and Democrats is escalating. The Republicans have been blocking almost all progressive legislations proposed by Obama, and even trying to reverse those that have been adopted such as those concerning healthcare.
Obama needs to fight back, but the embarrassing domestic political and economic gridlock has once again translated into an unfortunate China bash. And this time he has taken the Tibet card, while the Dalai Lama is eager to shift the world's focus from the achievements of Tibet after 60 years of peaceful liberalization to the Tibetan separatists.
Arrives a small bespectacled man with pre-arranged smile, well-choreographed gestures and clear agenda. Servile exchanges follow. This is what the Dalai Lama said in reply to a question from AFP: "Obama is 'president of the greatest democratic country, so naturally he is showing concern about basic human values, human rights, religious freedom'."
It has to be noted that the issues of human rights and human values are not always on top of the agenda of this former feudal lord, especially when they are being grossly violated by the "greatest democratic country" itself or by other Western powers. The Dalai Lama's criticism is almost exclusively reserved for China or some other countries that aim at an independent course of economic, social and political development.
The Obama-Dalai Lama meeting faced strong protest from China. It will damage Sino-US ties, but to what extent is not yet clear.
On one hand, China is by now accustomed to unfriendly outbursts from Western leaders, whenever they feel the need to flex their muscles or to escape scrutiny at home. On the other, hosting a person openly hostile to China and its unity in the White House is certainly a very serious act. To put it in perspective, it would be the same as the Chinese government officially inviting an individual hell-bent on seceding one of the states of the United States.
This game is foolish. China and the US live under two different systems but their economies are intertwined. Also, hostility is not something that the US could afford.
As The Telegraph reported on July 17: "Obama's meeting came at an especially sensitive moment, with leaders in Washington at odds over how to raise the $14.3 trillion US debt ceiling in time to avoid default. China holds more than $1 trillion in US Treasury debt and would be particularly exposed should Congress fail to reach a deal by Aug 2. A US default could rocket up interest rates, sink the value of the US dollar and hurt the global economy."
It would be wise for US politicians to concentrate on their own economic and social issues, instead of interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries to cover Washington's decline.
The author is an American novelist, documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist.
(China Daily 07/20/2011 page9)
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