 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Chen Yiming in Los Angeles and Li Ying in Beijing US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, President Barack Obama's nominee for ambassador to China, faces a tough confirmation battle in a hearing held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Friday. Committee Chairman John Kerry said, "President Obama could not have chosen a better person to represent our interests in Beijing at this critical juncture in US-China relations." "Locke will be responsible for helping build the kind of candid and cooperative partnership with China that is essential if we are to rebalance our economic relationship, combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and address the threat posed by global climate change." However, Tao Zhihui, a scholar of American politics, said that this hearing could contain a harsher grilling for Locke than the one he enjoyed when nominated as commerce secretary in 2009. "Though Locke remains personally popular, his job switch to the nation's top overseas diplomatic post will likely turn into a forum for critics of China and of the Obama administration's policies," Tao said, "He has showed a hard line toward China, especially on trade issues." James Risch, a Republican from Idaho, said, "I'm interested to hear Secretary Locke's views on the US-China relationship and the direction we are headed. I know my colleagues are curious to hear how he will balance these issues without compromising US values and principles, especially human rights and the rule of law," the Seattle Times reported. Ren Donglai, an expert on Sino-US relations with the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, said that "considering Locke's ethnic Chinese background, Washington wants to take advantage of that to help improve Sino-US trade relations." "However, Locke is a US citizen and he will definitely seek the best for his home country," Ren added. Just during the hearing, Locke promised he would be a "forceful" advocate for human rights while seeking broad cooperation with Beijing. Agencies contributed to this story |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
