Hillary: We won’t let human rights get in the way of trade with China
posted at 10:15 am on February 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
After all of the wailing and gnashing of teeth over both human-rights violations and trade-pact cheating in China from the Left during the last eight years, one would expect a Democratic administration to take a much tougher line on both. With Hope and Change coming to the White House, Obama voters had every right to think that their new hero (bigger than Jesus Christ!) would lead the way to Truth and Justice. For Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, though, the answer to WWJD and WWBOD is — what Bush did:
Amnesty International and a pro-Tibet group voiced shock Friday after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed not to let human rights concerns hinder cooperation with China.
Paying her first visit to Asia as the top US diplomat, Clinton said the United States would continue to press China on long-standing US concerns over human rights such as its rule over Tibet.
“But our pressing on those issues can’t interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis,” Clinton told reporters in Seoul just before leaving for Beijing.
T. Kumar of Amnesty International USA said the global rights lobby was “shocked and extremely disappointed” by Clinton’s remarks.
Hillary wanted to stress that human rights are important, but that the Obama administration has its priorities. They appear to be ranked in this order:
- Business (trade).
- Business (energy policy).
- Security (North Korea and Taiwan).
- Reminding China not to enslave, beat, and kill people.
I think that the Bush administration put security first, followed by trade and human rights — and got pilloried for it by Democrats over the last eight years. We heard nothing but how Bush wanted to suck up to Beijing, and that he didn’t care about people, blah blah blah. Perhaps I missed it, but I don’t recall a statement by Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell that baldly stated that the US cared less about human rights than trade than this statement from Hillary Clinton does.
I’m torn on this. The apparent pragmatism of the Obama foreign-policy team encourages me, but not as much as their fumbling amateurishness discourages me. Most of us care about human-rights violations (and so did the Bush administration), but to give the game away in the opening days takes all the pressure off of Beijing for the next four years. They know that the US will give them a pass on human rights as long as they keep trading with the US and toss Obama a few bones on climate change.
Blowback
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Sure, why should America stand on principles. /sarcoff
jbh45 on February 21, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Translation….
We owe you soooo much feakin’ money we dare not touch the human rights issue!
katy on February 21, 2009 at 10:19 AM
I’m shocked, shocked that SoS Clinton would act contrary to the highest principals. Especially with the inspiration of Lord Obamah (peace be upon him).
/sarc
Right_of_Attila on February 21, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Haha, shocked and disappointed about no constitutional rights at Baghram, shocked and disappointed about this.
Wah, cry more, n00bs.
Midas on February 21, 2009 at 10:20 AM
You have to hand it to the Clinton’s, once bought they stay bought.
Engrpat on February 21, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Any of our new crop of HA posters residing in China?
DarkCurrent on February 21, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Her politics of meaning are meaningless.
Pretty selective outrage there, Madame Mao.
jeff_from_mpls on February 21, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Well, not sayin’ it’s right, but since China kind of owns large chunks of us, maybe we should play it cool for the time being?
jeanie on February 21, 2009 at 10:21 AM
The first priority should be that China keeps buying our debt and we keep buying enough exports that their economy expands. Avoiding a global depression during the next two years will be the best way to support human rights in the long term.
dedalus on February 21, 2009 at 10:23 AM
One of the things that the Bush Administration did really well was clamping down on the child sex slave market.
Truly admirable stuff. If the Obama Admini doesn’t keep their DOJ on top of that or claims that in times of global depression who are we to stop the flow of business, well, then I’ll start getting really mad.
myrenovations on February 21, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Wow. It’s getting hard to find a Bush policy that the Dems haven’t adopted after demonizing those same policies for 8 years.
Guardian on February 21, 2009 at 10:24 AM
For them anything goes . . . after all, they own us.
rplat on February 21, 2009 at 10:26 AM
eh, two ‘wrongs’ don’t make a ‘right’.
Whats next? Give them Tiawan?
johnnyU on February 21, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Catholics in China and Catholics who voted for Obama: Penance, Penance, Penance.
Lord God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary of Guadalupe, intercede for us.
atemely on February 21, 2009 at 10:26 AM
You’ve got it.
Why do corporate executives get excoriated in the public square but shameless public servants who parlay their influence and connections for gold get a free pass, nay fawning admiration?
Because the leftist philosophy isn’t against wealth. It’s for transferring wealth into its own hands. It’s class envy.
jeff_from_mpls on February 21, 2009 at 10:26 AM
+1
Bless you.
jeff_from_mpls on February 21, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Trading human rights against “climate” change does sound a bit barbaric.
the_nile on February 21, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Trade between the US and China is important for Australia.
China buys Australia’s natural resources and turns them into things for the US to buy.
I am Australian.
Crux Australis on February 21, 2009 at 10:29 AM
The Obama administration is looking forward to all those nice campaign contributions that the Clintons used to get from the ChiComs. They don’t pay as well if you complain about their human rights violations.
DamnCat on February 21, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Don’t forget, she learned virtually everything she knows about this job by observing Madeline Albright.
whitetop on February 21, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Nailed it!
vapig on February 21, 2009 at 10:30 AM
It reminds me of hitting 30 and realizing that my parents actually did know something.
Captain ZerO is simply an immature self absorbed man. His on-the-job-training has begun and now he finds out that Bush really did know what he was doing. Adopting Bush’s positions won’t be hard though. Obambi will adopt them and then simply say that he’s not doing so. The MSM will nod approvingly and that will be that.
Mojave Mark on February 21, 2009 at 10:31 AM
There you go again. . .
The ‘human rights issues’ were nothing more that a sleight of hand misdirection public position anyway. What it said was, we’ll demand something, you’ll concede something, and we’ll appear to be negotiating, appearing to be reasonable ‘for the children’. Kinda like a husband and wife agreeing to appear to stay married when their marriage was on the rocks.
The Clintons, and the newly changed US foreign policy, is still the same thing, but now we’re telling China that they’ll pretend to give us some monetary policy concessions, or some trade and tariff concessions, and we’ll appear to be friends, so they don’t dump all those US treasury bills and all those dollars on the world market.
Skandia Recluse on February 21, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Bingo!!!
becki51758 on February 21, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I could see the basic logic of the thing if the endgame were clear. The argument would go something like, by engaging with China we help the planet and by westernizing their values we make it possible one day to stem the tide of their population’s suffering.
And maybe someone sees that as a remote possibility.
I see it more likely that we’d be the ones surrendering to them, we’d be the ones speaking Chinese within 50 years, enjoying infanticide and mandatory abortions.
jeff_from_mpls on February 21, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Exactly.
radiofreevillage on February 21, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I understand the thought, and I bet there’s some truth to it, but if we’re already subservient to China, isn’t the American experiment basically over? I mean, think of the implications of what you’re saying. Again, I don’t think you’re necessarily wrong. I simply don’t know. But what you said, if worked out to its conclusion, is horrifying.
jeff_from_mpls on February 21, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Kind of offtopic, I feel so sad for the injustice done on Tibetans and the complicit part world (and esp India) played by its silence.
Gaurav on February 21, 2009 at 10:35 AM
No…just spent a month there, though. Didn’t see any public beatings.
alflauren on February 21, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Don’t you like the Democratic “Nuanced” approach much much more than the Bush “Cowboy” approach?
I thought the rest of the world “loved us” now.
GarandFan on February 21, 2009 at 10:39 AM
That’s terrible, but she WAS able to get a massive donation to Bill’s library from a block-long sweatshop.
marklmail on February 21, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Predictable. Demagogue positions to appeal to your nutty base and then support those same positions once you get into office.
It helps if your base is a bunch of morons.
Asher on February 21, 2009 at 10:41 AM
It’s been horrifying for decades. Where have you been? It’s a political stalemate and has been since I can remember. If there was ever an answer to this it was completely killed off with the election of Obama.
If the US superpower status and our capitalist system is destroyed, it will kill any hope that our way will influence their way.
Over the last decade China has begun to make progress with freemarkets and a free society. That is the only way the people of China have a chance to change the human rights issue.
That will not happen because WE, THE LATE GREAT US is going down the crapper!
katy on February 21, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Al Gore to Hillary: “Get your priorities straight bit**, or I’ll come over there and change your climate“
Rovin on February 21, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Maybe she can sell them some more of our military secrets…we are a little straped for cash.
trs on February 21, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Yeah, something Hillary knows a LOT about.
Fishoutofwater on February 21, 2009 at 10:53 AM
I’m sure the greens appreciate the 1 child per couple policy.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on February 21, 2009 at 10:57 AM
So I guess this means that she and Obama aren’t going to close Gitmo after all, right?
The economy, Gaia’s health and security all trump “human rights” in this new Liberal World View.
Mr. Bingley on February 21, 2009 at 10:57 AM
We shouldn’t be pointing our finger into the chest of someone that we owe tons of money.
Regardless of that, who cares how China conducts their internal business? If China believed in true classical liberalism (As Hayek meant it) then we would be in serious trouble. There are not enough resources in the world to support the prosperity that would come from it.
LevStrauss on February 21, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Under this Obama administration our old enemies are now our friends and our old friends are now our enemies.
Maxx on February 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Not to worry. Hollywood will not stand for this. Any minute now, they will step up to the mic and voice their outrage. Waiting…..
TN Mom on February 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Well, lets talk Norman Hsu et al. Here’s where the defecation should hit the fan for Chinese Hillraisers and funding for the Billy Jeff foundation. Human rights vs. cash cow? No contest.
Keep your eye on the cash.
swede7 on February 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM
One more item for the far right loons to wail and knash their teeth about. Heres the simple formula for the far right….whatever and whenever Obama or his administration do anything, pounce on it and tear it to pieces. Then turn to the American people and say “see how rotten the Obama Administration is.” rinse, lather, repeat. Like know one sees right thru that old playbook (i.e. see 06 and 08 elections.) But no, keep doing the same thing, it works so well for you, you smart boys.
athensboy on February 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Athensboy is sooooooo right, you far right loons should not criticize the Great Lord Barak aka Black Jesus! We should worship and know that what he means by a change. Change stands for changing his mind or his campaign promises. He changes all the time and you people criticizing should be ashamed. Damn rightwing loons, taking him at his word!
Africanus on February 21, 2009 at 11:10 AM
The Oscars are tomorrow, but they’ll be too busy celebrating the sweep of Milk.
BuckeyeSam on February 21, 2009 at 11:12 AM
athensboy on February 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Be sure to pass this “wisdom” on to your grandchildren. Or better yet, get yourself sterilized and save the planet. Your Messiah will thank you.
Rovin on February 21, 2009 at 11:15 AM
That playbook was copywrited in 2000-2005. Dumb ass.
Patrick S on February 21, 2009 at 11:16 AM
They own us.
The United States of China.
getalife on February 21, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Fixed that for ya. And it did work very well for the Democrats in 06 and 08. But now the dog has caught the car.
Mr. D on February 21, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Did anyone notice the nice red scarf thingy that Hillary chose for her visit to meet with the ChiComs? I’m sure they appreciated it. Hope and Change!
BrianBoru on February 21, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Hitlary is trying to top Bill’s Rwandan genocide numbers.
ex-Democrat on February 21, 2009 at 11:24 AM
ex-Democrat on February 21, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Why would Chinese business men contribute millions to the Clintons?
Answer: See above. Payback time.
Why would Chinese trade trump human rights in a lefty regime?
No Chinese funding – no porkulus
swede7 on February 21, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Let’s see: Putin lecturing America on the dangers of socialism and our Sec State ignoring human rights.
CHANGE!
ex-Democrat on February 21, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Wow. It’s getting hard to find a Bush policy that the Dems haven’t adopted after demonizing those same policies for 8 years.
Guardian on February 21, 2009 at 10:24 AM
I can take care of that for him, since I neuter feral cats…we don’t even have to administer anesthetic…
catlady on February 21, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Sorry my bad, wrong wrong comment. Here we go:
Be sure to pass this “wisdom” on to your grandchildren. Or better yet, get yourself sterilized and save the planet. Your Messiah will thank you.
Rovin on February 21, 2009 at 11:15 AM
can take care of that for him, since I neuter feral cats…we don’t even have to administer anesthetic…
catlady on February 21, 2009 at 11:39 AM
catlady on February 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Say, when did Subway hire Hillary to do a “$5 Footlong” ad?
BuckeyeSam on February 21, 2009 at 11:42 AM
She will, not surprisingly, be the worst SOS we’ve ever hard. What’s really sad about this is I think she got the position simply as a reward for running in the race and rather than contribute to her debt, Obama gave her a post. Politics as usual. There were probably hundreds of candidates who could have done a better job.
scalleywag on February 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Africanus on February 21, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Sarcasm, what a concept
catlady on February 21, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Hillary is a complete idiot! I know we owe China a lot of money. But look at all their products that were bad. And this crap Climate Change. Nothing but lies. Now we have to suffer with the junk that China makes? But then again, had no idea that Australia is connected with what our Country does. Australia is a great Country. Would love to see China go under. Not Australia…. I have many friends that live there. :)
sheebe on February 21, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Clintons feed from the Chinese rice bowl.
petefrt on February 21, 2009 at 11:46 AM
scalleywag on February 21, 2009 at 11:43 AM
This whole administration thus far has been a joke. A Sec of Energy who doesn’t know what he sets policy for? Taxing mileage on cars?
Now at least we can see HIL for the incompetent fool she is. Her poor judgement, lax morals are on display for all to see. She doesn’t get to hide behind Billy boy or up on the Hill with her 99 other Senate blow hards.
catlady on February 21, 2009 at 11:47 AM
For Amnesty International, to have one of their all time favorite political idols say what she said yesterday must be like getting doused over the head with a couple of freezing buckets of ice cold glacier water.
Call it your Reality Check, AI, in finally finding out what the Clintons are REALLY all about.
pilamaye on February 21, 2009 at 11:48 AM
sheebe on February 21, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Yeah, Aussies are ok. They have their share of stupid a** liberals too.
catlady on February 21, 2009 at 11:48 AM
The “third way” is about deceit. You cannot say that you support both human rights and unfettered trade with China.
Angry Dumbo on February 21, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Yet isn’t it human right issues that scuttled the Columbian Free Trade Treaty?
redshirt on February 21, 2009 at 11:57 AM
We will be giving China Taiwan soon. How many Taiwanese contributed to the One?
kelley in virginia on February 21, 2009 at 12:08 PM
C’mon Obama,
FREE TIBET!!!
revolutionismyname on February 21, 2009 at 12:08 PM
And here I thought it was Democrats trying to suck up to Chavez in Venezuela, since he had been outted as a backer of the rebels killing Columbians.
Patrick S on February 21, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I see this as a positive part of Clinton’s character.
You see, once bought, she stays bought.
18-1 on February 21, 2009 at 12:16 PM
LOL –
The policy towards China is kinda 180 from here in the US
1.) Reminding Obama & the left not to enslave, beat, and kill people.
2.) Security – The left feels it is more important to give terrorists rights then citizens in the US who disagree with them.
3.) Energy Policy – Obama’s don’t drill & No Nuclear plants policy only placates the left and makes America weak.
4,) Business – Obama’s anti-capitalistic approach is why there is no confidence in the markets. You cannot redistribute wealth and expect positive results.
izoneguy on February 21, 2009 at 12:21 PM
*paging Norman Hsu*
So, I guess all that demanding and gnashing of teeth for president Bush to boycott the Olympics was just double-speak from Obama and Hillary. Heh.
SouthernGent on February 21, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Somebody get this administration a dictionary and a thesaurus. They need to expand their vocabulary beyond the word “crisis.” As Slim Pickens said in Blazing Saddles, “I am depressed!”
College Prof on February 21, 2009 at 12:30 PM
First you have to have principles in order to stand by them.
Done That on February 21, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I agree 100% with Hillary.
“But our pressing on those issues can’t interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis,” Clinton told reporters in Seoul just before leaving for Beijing.
What doesn’t make sense about that? It would be a huge disaster to start with embargoes/tariffs right now. Of course, their hypocrisy is pretty laughable though.
ggoofer on February 21, 2009 at 12:33 PM
EDIT:
Except for the bit about the “climate crisis”. I read energy in your list and thought she meant oil, which is worth worrying about.
ggoofer on February 21, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Just a teeny tiny bit of conflict of interest.
HillyBilly won’t be fixing any NK issues (at least no better than Mad Albright did) because they won’t be anything but kissy kissy while taking vaykay in Beijing.
Speakup on February 21, 2009 at 12:51 PM
A very wise friend of mine from Southern India paints a frightening picture of China/US relations based on what he has seen happen between In dia and China over the years. In addition to this commentary I think I learned something when he explained it like this::
If you are an African or South American or Southeast Asian business person or politician and you hear from the U.S. something like this “Yes we’ll trade with you or loan to you or borrow from you or send you aid but ONLY if you enforce our alien seeming Western values on your people or partners” and then you hear from China something like this “Yes and of course this is just business, no ‘values’ or ‘rights’ strings need to be attached so you continue to operate as you see fit” it is not a difficult decision.
You can argue about “standing on principles” all you want but the pragmatic reality is that China and other countries too are making massive inroads into other cultures with a much quieter and less demanding approach. They are not insisting on anything now BUT over time the sentiment will grow that the Chinese are good guys who help us out and the Americans are doctrinaire control freaks who are trying to make us like them.
Over years and decades and centuries as long as we keep behaving like thiks we will increasingly be seen as overbearing bastards to be avoided and the Chinese will be seen as wise kind and good.
*That* scenario spells disaster for western style ideals and individual liberties vs collectivism and individual opression over the long run and our great great great grand-comrades will have no one to blame but us if we keep it up.
Of course there are large segments of the world that are never going to see us in a friendly light. The inability to differentiate between the 2 is what makes the neo-liberals frightening as they show signs of capitulating to everyone. $.02
GregoryNeilSmith on February 21, 2009 at 12:58 PM
We’re in a recession and no human rights violations is going to stop that from being priority #1. Principals be damned.
Yakko77 on February 21, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Talk About Your Bloated Self-Egos: “We Must Save The PLANET From The Climate Change Crisis”. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, ARE YOU BLEEP BLEEP KIDDING ME. The True Change Will Be When Ali-Bama And His Thieves (Of US Citizens Liberties) Either Denounce Their Ignorance Or Are Shown The Unemployment Line. What Did Hillary Know About Ali-Bamas Birth Eligibility? If She Could Beat Him In The Dem Primary, But Could Not Win The POTUS Election Against The Republicans, Did She Acquiesce To The Democrat Party (To Gain The White House For The Democrats, Obama Must Be The Candidate) And Not Expose The Truth? Just A Thought
GD on February 21, 2009 at 1:14 PM
It is horrible the way human rights are being pushed aside, but a very positive point out of this posting is the following…
Only one month into Dear Leader’s presidency and we have two way-left organizations criticizing him. My, this honeymoon is coming to a screeching halt in a big way. I thought all of the left was going to give him a pass for at least a year or two.
behiker on February 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
…I don;t think we are enabling China’s human rights abuses the way we do with other trading partners like Saudi Arabia. There are plenty of people in the US who will continue to highlight China’s faults even if the government takes a soft approach.
lexhamfox on February 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Looks like the money Ya Lin “Charlie” Trie (and the PLA) provided to the Clinton’s way back in Little Rock days, and later during Monicagate, is finally paying off.
So much for Hope and Change and a new direction in our foreign policy towards China.
coldwarrior on February 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
We now have a DemocRAT administration that will consistently proclaim peace has been achieved when in reality there is no peace. Why? Because the same people who believed the lies in the beginning will continue to believe any new lies and as long as a majority can be counted on to remain ignorant of the facts they can keep up the illusion of Hope & Change in the worst way possible.
wtng2fish on February 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
A pro abortionist with principles? Not seen one yet. If you can rationalize killing innocent human life for the sake of convenience then what’s a little thing like trading human rights for trade.
Basilsbest on February 21, 2009 at 2:56 PM
The Declaration of Independence tells us the God gives us rights of life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness.
We knew Hillary, BHO,& their ilk don’t believe in the right to life. Why should we be shocked to learn that they don’t believe in the other two?
jgapinoy on February 21, 2009 at 3:00 PM
The nutroots will love this but who cares? Clinton is a hack and will do as she is told by her masters.
Ares on February 21, 2009 at 3:34 PM
typical clinton liberal liars..
Ohh we hate dictators
then as soon as they get out of the country
she is given every communist dictator a blow job..
or is that pelozi while clinton rapes the females i am not sure..
jcila on February 21, 2009 at 5:48 PM
I wonder where all the human rights liberals are now? Just one more example of liberal hypocrisy. They are for human rights until they can make political points with their political base by supporting a dictator. They are against military expenditures until the UN needs troops. They are against indefinite detention, unless it’s the International Criminal Court (e.g. Milosevic).
ThomasB. on February 21, 2009 at 6:56 PM
With this kind of comment it is no wonder that the Obama administration is becoming the laughing stock of the world.
For years Amnesty International has not batted an eyelid over some of the things that have been done in the USA – including the forced death of a woman who could not speak up on her own behalf. Suddenly they are seeing the truth.
What gets me is the alleged climate change crisis when there is no freakin’ climate change crisis. What we have witnessed recently aka the heatwave in Oz is cyclical. We have had those high temperatures in the past but in the past we did not have green councils preventing people from clearing trees on their property. (Even Germaine Greer gets this one right)
maggieo on February 21, 2009 at 8:29 PM
That’s a great point. Something to think about for sure.
tartan on February 21, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Hillary is a laughing stock. While the Middle East is about to go up in flames, she goes to China. No one trusts her, especially not Obama.
searcher484 on February 21, 2009 at 9:26 PM
We never needed Red China…until the politicians made it so that we need them.
I’m sure millions in ‘contributions’ helped pave the way.
Many Republicans were at the feeding trough, too, from what I gather.
Dr. ZhivBlago on February 21, 2009 at 10:22 PM
and?????
Jamson64 on February 21, 2009 at 11:23 PM
As Ann Coulter would say: ‘THAT’S my girl!’
Hilly is a great choice for SOS!!!
We owe China too much money, (and she and other folks in gov’t
are making too much money by lobbying for Communist/capitalist
China) to criticize the sweat shops and the organ transplants and the persecution of the religious people in China. (I think that the last 2 overlap somewhat.)
Christine on February 22, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Hillary is irrelevant now. She is being given assignments that have no relevance to any major foreign policy issues.
searcher484 on February 22, 2009 at 12:20 AM
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