Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and
U.S. President Barack Obama were late in joining the other APEC leaders
for the summit "family photo" in Beijing on Nov. 11.
© AP
TOKYO - U.S. President Barack Obama was standing
silently beside Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had a tight smile
plastered on his face. Just then, Russian President Vladimir Putin came
to stand on the other side of the Chinese leader.
It was Nov. 11, and Obama and Putin, who were among the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum attending a summit in Beijing, were several minutes late for the "family photo." They had kept their APEC colleagues waiting.
During the APEC conference, Obama, still reeling from the historical defeat his party suffered in the midterm elections earlier in the month, and Putin talked briefly on as many as three occasions but found no common ground on any important issue.
Obama spoke with Putin repeatedly because he had received reports about Russian troops crossing into eastern Ukraine along with columns of tanks, in violation of a recent ceasefire agreement. Obama also sought conversations with Putin because Russia may play a key role in international talks over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin made no positive response to Obama's calls for self-restraint and cooperation over these issues.
One moment that highlighted the awkward tension that dominated their meetings came when Putin entered an ornate room and remarked, "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Obama coolly agreed, according to reporters who witnessed the scene.
Obama failed to score any big diplomatic points during the summit but did inadvertently create a buzz with his behavior outside conference rooms.
Obama declined the Red Flag limousine service provided by China and stuck to a U.S.-supplied armored limo.
Carried to Beijing on a U.S. Air Force transporter, the presidential limo boasts 8-inch (20cm) thick plates capable of shielding occupants from certain kinds of explosive devices as well as 5-inch bulletproof windows.
While Obama was in a meeting with Xi in the Great Hall of the People, Chinese reporters marveled at the monster vehicle, some taking selfies in front of the car.
Obama also caused a stir for chewing gum while walking alongside Xi. Video footage of this scene was aired by China's state-run TV station, then went viral on the Internet.
It shocked the Chinese blogosphere, familiar with the country's wooden political leaders. Some bloggers called Obama rude, while others speculated that the U.S. president was just trying to relax.
During his joint press conference with Xi on Nov. 12, Obama said, "A strong, cooperative relationship with China is at the heart of our pivot to Asia." But three days later, speaking at the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Obama indirectly criticized China. "An effective security order for Asia must be based -- not on spheres of influence, or coercion, or intimidation where big nations bully the small -- but on alliances of mutual security, international law and international norms that are upheld, and the peaceful resolution of disputes," he said.
The remarks in Australia were an answer to questions among Washington's Asian allies about whether Beijing could coax the Obama administration into weakening its commitment to their security.
Emissions agreement
Obama cast his historic agreement with Xi on curbing growth of their countries' carbon dioxide emissions as a victory in the international fight against global warming.
But Obama's political opponents at home immediately weaponized the agreement. Mitch McConnell, a Republican who is set to become the Senate's next majority leader, was one of the first to condemn the deal, even though it commits China, for the first time, to capping carbon emissions and getting 20% of its energy from nonfossil fuel sources by 2030.
The deal "requires the Chinese to do nothing at all for 16 years," McConnell moaned.
In his remaining two years in office, Obama is striving for some legacy achievements. But he is fighting an uphill battle every step of the way.
It was Nov. 11, and Obama and Putin, who were among the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum attending a summit in Beijing, were several minutes late for the "family photo." They had kept their APEC colleagues waiting.
During the APEC conference, Obama, still reeling from the historical defeat his party suffered in the midterm elections earlier in the month, and Putin talked briefly on as many as three occasions but found no common ground on any important issue.
Obama spoke with Putin repeatedly because he had received reports about Russian troops crossing into eastern Ukraine along with columns of tanks, in violation of a recent ceasefire agreement. Obama also sought conversations with Putin because Russia may play a key role in international talks over Iran's nuclear program.
Putin made no positive response to Obama's calls for self-restraint and cooperation over these issues.
One moment that highlighted the awkward tension that dominated their meetings came when Putin entered an ornate room and remarked, "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Obama coolly agreed, according to reporters who witnessed the scene.
Obama failed to score any big diplomatic points during the summit but did inadvertently create a buzz with his behavior outside conference rooms.
Obama declined the Red Flag limousine service provided by China and stuck to a U.S.-supplied armored limo.
Carried to Beijing on a U.S. Air Force transporter, the presidential limo boasts 8-inch (20cm) thick plates capable of shielding occupants from certain kinds of explosive devices as well as 5-inch bulletproof windows.
While Obama was in a meeting with Xi in the Great Hall of the People, Chinese reporters marveled at the monster vehicle, some taking selfies in front of the car.
Obama also caused a stir for chewing gum while walking alongside Xi. Video footage of this scene was aired by China's state-run TV station, then went viral on the Internet.
It shocked the Chinese blogosphere, familiar with the country's wooden political leaders. Some bloggers called Obama rude, while others speculated that the U.S. president was just trying to relax.
During his joint press conference with Xi on Nov. 12, Obama said, "A strong, cooperative relationship with China is at the heart of our pivot to Asia." But three days later, speaking at the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Obama indirectly criticized China. "An effective security order for Asia must be based -- not on spheres of influence, or coercion, or intimidation where big nations bully the small -- but on alliances of mutual security, international law and international norms that are upheld, and the peaceful resolution of disputes," he said.
The remarks in Australia were an answer to questions among Washington's Asian allies about whether Beijing could coax the Obama administration into weakening its commitment to their security.
Emissions agreement
Obama cast his historic agreement with Xi on curbing growth of their countries' carbon dioxide emissions as a victory in the international fight against global warming.
But Obama's political opponents at home immediately weaponized the agreement. Mitch McConnell, a Republican who is set to become the Senate's next majority leader, was one of the first to condemn the deal, even though it commits China, for the first time, to capping carbon emissions and getting 20% of its energy from nonfossil fuel sources by 2030.
The deal "requires the Chinese to do nothing at all for 16 years," McConnell moaned.
In his remaining two years in office, Obama is striving for some legacy achievements. But he is fighting an uphill battle every step of the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment