. Military Space News .
SUPERPOWERS
US denies tensions are crippling US-China ties

by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) March 15, 2010
A senior US official Monday denied that America's relationship with China was crippled by tension, after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao bluntly blamed Washington for weeks of public rows.

"We have a mature relationship with China ... I think the relationship is in good shape," said President Barack Obama's senior director for Asian affairs Jeff Bader, following weeks of discord over currency, Tibet and Taiwan.

"We have a number of differences, and we are talking about them. I would not describe it as a relationship of tension."

Bader was speaking to reporters to preview Obama's second visit to the Asia-Pacific region as president next week, a trip to Guam, Indonesia and Australia that was delayed over the political battle over health care reform.

Asked whether recent arguments between Beijing and Washington would cast a shadow over Obama's attempts to reinvigorate the US role in Asia, Bader said it would be impossible to go to Asia and not talk about China.

On Sunday, Wen hit out with outspoken criticism of the United States, blaming Washington for recent tensions and calling on the Obama administration to take steps to repair the damage.

Wen accused Washington of violating China's sovereignty when it approved the sale of billions of dollars in weapons to Taiwan in January, and again when Obama met the Dalai Lama at the White House last month.

Relations have also deteriorated over a series of other issues -- Google's threat to leave China over cyberattacks and web censorship, a string of trade disputes, and the value of the Chinese yuan.

Wen, addressing hundreds of reporters at the end of China's annual session of parliament, said relations between the world's biggest and third-largest economies "got off to a good start" after Obama took office in January 2009.

But Washington's moves on self-ruled Taiwan, which China sees as part of its territory, and Obama's meeting with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader had "violated China's sovereignty" and provoked "serious disturbances" in ties.

"The responsibility does not lie with the Chinese side but with the US," Wen said.

Washington has led calls for a stronger yuan, saying the currency is kept intentionally low to boost Chinese exports.

Obama last week said that a more market-oriented exchange rate for the yuan would help rebalance with world economy after the deep economic crisis.



Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


SUPERPOWERS
Walker's World: Obama is losing India
Washington (UPI) Mar 15, 2009
The Obama administration is trying to play catch-up in its relations with the country that could become its most important long-term ally. But it may be leaving it too late, after India last week agreed a $7 billion deal in arms, nuclear reactors and space technology with Russia. India's strategic importance can hardly be exaggerated. More than just the other Asian economic giant after ... read more







The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement