Obama's So-Called "World" Tour: Why Not China?

The mainstream U.S. media is covering Senator Barack Obama's tour to the Middle East and Europe as if he were already the president. Journalists call it a "world tour" but it could hardly be that. Like all the American politicians before him, Obama's world view is focused on the conflict in Middle East and the trans-Atlantic relationship with Europe. Yet the most important bilateral relationship that the U.S. will have this century will be with China. We would bet Obama isn't going there anytime soon. And what about India? Unlikely.

This is disappointing. If Obama really wants to change America and bring a fresh perspective to U.S. foreign policy, he needs to break the Beltway's captivation with the Middle East and Europe and stress to Americans that they must pay as much if not more attention to strengthening ties with Asia, particularly China and India. Unfortunately, it looks like an Obama government will be yet another administration that focuses more on the alliances of old without thinking more deeply and strategically about relationships of the future. At least George W. Bush knows enough to see the benefit of traveling to China next month for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. From Obama, expect some hackneyed anti-China diatribe during the Olympic fortnight. So much for "change you can believe in."