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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| China: Romney and Obama tread lightly but try to score campaign points | China: Romney and Obama tread lightly but try to score campaign points |
| (4 months later) | |
| When Barack Obama and Mitt Romney squared off in their second debate last week, the view from Beijing was not of a boxing match but "a vanity fair for China-bashers competing to flex their muscles", snapped a commentary for state news agency Xinhua. | When Barack Obama and Mitt Romney squared off in their second debate last week, the view from Beijing was not of a boxing match but "a vanity fair for China-bashers competing to flex their muscles", snapped a commentary for state news agency Xinhua. |
| "We hope the US Republican and Democratic candidates will get rid of the impact of election politics and do more things conducive to China-US mutual trust and cooperation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. | "We hope the US Republican and Democratic candidates will get rid of the impact of election politics and do more things conducive to China-US mutual trust and cooperation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. |
| But Monday's final debate is likely to see more panda-slugging; it includes a section on "the rise of China and tomorrow's world". | But Monday's final debate is likely to see more panda-slugging; it includes a section on "the rise of China and tomorrow's world". |
| On Tuesday Romney vowed to crack down on the world's second largest economy, complaining it had cheated and vowing to label it a currency manipulator on his first day as president. | On Tuesday Romney vowed to crack down on the world's second largest economy, complaining it had cheated and vowing to label it a currency manipulator on his first day as president. |
| "Governor, you're the last person who's going to get tough on China," retorted Obama, arguing Romney had backed companies that pioneered outsourcing and was currently investing in firms "building surveillance equipment for China to spy on its own folks". | "Governor, you're the last person who's going to get tough on China," retorted Obama, arguing Romney had backed companies that pioneered outsourcing and was currently investing in firms "building surveillance equipment for China to spy on its own folks". |
| June Teufel Dreyer, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Miami, said China had been salient in past races – Bill Clinton accused George H Bush of "coddling dictators from Beijing to Bagdad", for example – but seemed to be playing a larger role this year. She suggested that was a response to Chinese policy - including Beijing's confrontational behaviour in the South China and East China seas; continuing large trade surpluses and the skirting of WTO obligations; and attempts to stifle dissident voices. | June Teufel Dreyer, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Miami, said China had been salient in past races – Bill Clinton accused George H Bush of "coddling dictators from Beijing to Bagdad", for example – but seemed to be playing a larger role this year. She suggested that was a response to Chinese policy - including Beijing's confrontational behaviour in the South China and East China seas; continuing large trade surpluses and the skirting of WTO obligations; and attempts to stifle dissident voices. |
| While Romney raised the issue first, the candidates "seem to have been devoting approximately equal time" to it, she added. | While Romney raised the issue first, the candidates "seem to have been devoting approximately equal time" to it, she added. |
| Susan Shirk, deputy assistant secretary of state in the Clinton administration and now at the University of California-San Diego, thought China was perhaps less prominent this time, but the dynamic was familiar. | Susan Shirk, deputy assistant secretary of state in the Clinton administration and now at the University of California-San Diego, thought China was perhaps less prominent this time, but the dynamic was familiar. |
| "Romney, like all challengers, tries to paint the current president as too soft on China. Because of the country's present economic pain, the focus is on China as an economic rather than security threat," she said. | "Romney, like all challengers, tries to paint the current president as too soft on China. Because of the country's present economic pain, the focus is on China as an economic rather than security threat," she said. |
| But Obama was somewhat protected because he has pursued trade complaints against China. | But Obama was somewhat protected because he has pursued trade complaints against China. |
| "And like all incumbents, President Obama is reluctant to trash relations with China to score campaign points," she added, saying he had attacked Bain's outsourcing rather than China itself. | "And like all incumbents, President Obama is reluctant to trash relations with China to score campaign points," she added, saying he had attacked Bain's outsourcing rather than China itself. |
| It's not only Chinese viewers who react uncomfortably to angry rhetoric. "Such talk does damage," wrote John Frisbie, president of the U.S.-China Business Council. | It's not only Chinese viewers who react uncomfortably to angry rhetoric. "Such talk does damage," wrote John Frisbie, president of the U.S.-China Business Council. |
| "It undermines support for a smarter approach to America's most important economic relationship." | "It undermines support for a smarter approach to America's most important economic relationship." |
| He noted China was a $250bn market for American companies and the third largest buyer of US exports after Canada and Mexico. | He noted China was a $250bn market for American companies and the third largest buyer of US exports after Canada and Mexico. |
| And as Obama points out, the renminbi has risen, albeit not as far as the US would like – by 11% since 2008 and almost 30% since 2005. | And as Obama points out, the renminbi has risen, albeit not as far as the US would like – by 11% since 2008 and almost 30% since 2005. |
| Few in China take campaign statements at face value. Even Romney supporters question whether he would actually label China a manipulator; others point out that applying the label requires no further concrete action. "Despite his aggressive rhetoric, a President Romney might actually be better for China," wrote Shen Dingli of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University. | Few in China take campaign statements at face value. Even Romney supporters question whether he would actually label China a manipulator; others point out that applying the label requires no further concrete action. "Despite his aggressive rhetoric, a President Romney might actually be better for China," wrote Shen Dingli of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University. |
| "Traditionally, Republicans have favored free trade, free enterprise, and less regulation ...[and] shared concern over the economic risk of curbing climate change." | "Traditionally, Republicans have favored free trade, free enterprise, and less regulation ...[and] shared concern over the economic risk of curbing climate change." |
| Others say officials would rather deal with the president they know. | Others say officials would rather deal with the president they know. |
| "I do not think that these attacks will result in any change in policy no matter who wins. US policy will respond to changes in China," argued Dreyer. | "I do not think that these attacks will result in any change in policy no matter who wins. US policy will respond to changes in China," argued Dreyer. |
| The Xinhua commentary observed: "It is an embarrassing truth that past US presidents have often toned down their tough talk on China after taking office, showing that they know the results of their tough talk going into effect would be disastrous." | The Xinhua commentary observed: "It is an embarrassing truth that past US presidents have often toned down their tough talk on China after taking office, showing that they know the results of their tough talk going into effect would be disastrous." |
| • This article was amended on 25 October because it said June Teufel Dreyer was an expert on Chinese politics at Miami University. She is actually at the University of Miami, in Florida. Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio. | • This article was amended on 25 October because it said June Teufel Dreyer was an expert on Chinese politics at Miami University. She is actually at the University of Miami, in Florida. Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio. |
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