China Blames US, Journalists for Obama Airport Debacle


Visits by heads of state are carefully scripted events, down to the last detail. When Obama visited China it’s unthinkable that there would be confusion over such routine matters as the provision of stairs for him to descend. In spite of China’s protestations to the contrary, this was a diplomatic snub. And by the way, Mr. Putin suffered no such indignities.

Not only were there no stairs provided for Obama, forcing him to make his exit from Air Force One via a hatch in the belly of the airplane, but there were altercations between Obama’s staff and Chinese officials on the tarmac.

China on Monday leveled responsibility at the United States and journalists for a fracas at a Chinese airport, in which officials of both countries exchanged heated remarks as President Barack Obama disembarked from his aircraft.

The comments by a foreign ministry spokeswoman were in response to questions whether China, which is hosting a G20 summit meeting in its eastern city of Hangzhou, intentionally failed to provide Obama’s plane with a staircase, an event that has fueled speculation it was a diplomatic snub.

And it wasn’t just Obama who had troubles with Chinese authorities.

A Chinese security official had also blocked National Security Adviser Susan Rice on the tarmac and yelled at another U.S. official trying to help journalists get closer to Obama.

None of this was accidental. Obama’s policies and approaches to dealing with the Chinese have made him the odd man out at this conference, and this “incident” was orchestrated by the Chinese to make that point.

Whether Mr. Obama can do anything to advance his international agenda in the waning months of his administration remains to be seen. I’m not particularly concerned about whether Obama is respected, but I am concerned that the degree of respect America receives around the world is deteriorating under this president.

Perhaps I was wrong in criticizing him for spending so much time on the golf course. In some cases, we might be better off if he just stayed there.

Source:  Reuters



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