MAYBE HE SHOULD WEAR A WHITE FLAG PIN IN HIS LAPEL?:

Obama’s China kowtow: Why didn't the President of the free world raise sensitive human rights issues in Beijing? Because he couldn't afford to. (Constance Kong | Wednesday, 18 November 2009, MercatorNet)

The pity is that while America has considerable life and potential left in it, President Obama seems to have given up. He came to China not only cap-in-hand but also on bended knee. Americans who have been concerned at seeing their President bow before Saudi royalty and the Japanese Emperor should be more concerned about seeing him kowtow to China’s Communist rulers.

Even before his visit signs were that Mr Obama might act deferentially towards China. He declined a meeting with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, in June to avoid offending Beijing ahead of the visit. While President Obama might have thought he was giving face (gei mianzi) to China’s government by deferring the meeting, it could be construed by many in China as a backdown -– something that would entail significant loss of face (diu mianzi) for America –- a sure sign of its weakness.

This visit made comparisons of him with President Kennedy finally ring hollow. No “ich bin ein Beijinger” speech was heard on this trip, not even when President Obama told university students in Shanghai that China should make the internet freer.

Indeed, President Obama lost more than just face by not raising a number of key issues, or not raising them loudly enough, during his visit. He squandered an opportunity to speak truth to power -– as John F. Kennedy and other presidents have done.