How is the president’s star, dimmed a little at home, shining around the world? The international community has done its best Sadie Hawkins date routine: coy, contradictory and playing hard to get. In Copenhagen, the world eliminated the president’s hometown in the first round of Olympic bidding. Days later, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. What should Obama expect out of a relationship with China?
Any questions about the significance of the president’s China trip must reflect feelings in both countries. The question, “What does China mean to Obama?” can be hashed and rehashed in the U.S. From here in Beijing, I’ve been doing some legwork on this problem: “What does Obama mean to China?”
The Chinese people I spoke with were young and well-educated, but diverse enough in life experience to reflect the most general views of the Chinese people. What emerged from my conversations were observations about America’s global role, hope for the future and above all, a cautious optimism about Barack Obama.
Several Chinese students were especially taken with Obama’s personal qualities. One called him “an ideal American” and a “passionate leader.” Lu Yao, a student at Beijing Foreign Studies University, called him “persuasive” and “influential,” adding, “about his ability of leading a country, I believe it’s beyond doubt.”
“Most people use news reports and newspapers” to hear about Obama, Lu told me.
“Is the coverage positive or negative?” I asked.
“Both, but more on the negative side.” The cautious side of cautious optimism emerged. I asked why coverage was more negative.
Lu said, “Because he promised to do a great amount of things, but he only achieved some of it.” Another student echoed this: “I really do not know enough yet … he hasn’t done enough or said enough to show how he is different from Bush.”
Much of the Chinese level of awareness of Obama emanates from America’s strong global position. Lu said Sino-American relations were good “because America has greatly influenced Chinese people’s way of thinking.”
“In what way?” I said.
“Big news in America is big news of the world.”
I wondered aloud whether this was beneficial or harmful.
It cut both ways, he said. “I think positive relations could bring good things to China … Negative relations could bring bad things to China.”
“Any specific bad things?” I asked.
He sat in silence. I finally asked the question hanging in the air.
“War?”
He paused, “That is the most severe one.”
This recurring cautious impulse was tempered with the optimistic hope that a great opportunity has arisen. The Chinese people I talked with shared the concerns that many Americans do. There were “broader areas,” one said, where America and China could cooperate.
“I hope Obama comes up with a lot of ideas … climate change, jobs, economic relations,” a young woman named Emily told me. These are the “broader areas” that President Obama may ask the Chinese to help him address. If the president wants China’s help, he may have a deep well of hope and possibility to draw from.
“Chinese people like him,” Emily said. “Chinese are excited about Obama because if Obama is able to be elected President of America, then anything’s possible.”
I asked Lu if this was true.
“To some degree maybe she’s right … the attitude carried by America is quite important because America influences international attitude changes.” The image of Team China/Team America tackling the world’s problems together was appealing.
Of course, there are obstacles. China’s environmental degradation is impeding its economic growth, as is income inequality. The world does not accept China’s human rights record. Elements in Tibet and Xinjiang provinces continually agitate for more autonomy. Crucially, there are right-wing elements within the U.S. pushing for an antagonistic stance toward China.
Despite these issues, from the view here in China, progress seems likely. I was repeatedly presented with Chinese cautious optimism. It was a healthy dose of skepticism toward Obama’s stated goals, moderated by a sense of possibility in a country where building the Great Wall, the Three Gorges Dam and the world’s biggest parade float is old news.
China is ready to hear President Obama. There’s a door here, 1.4 billion people wide, standing open for cooperation; it won’t be without obstacles and setbacks. If there is any time and place for the change we need, the place is China and the time is now.