Page 20 - The South China Business Journal
P. 20
OVER STORY
Compared with a decade ago, China in The question “What he’s done to crack down on corruption and
many ways is more politically repressive. remains: How to address some of the problems with air quality
Five leading news organizations were much influence and things like that I think have been popular with
blocked from even covering the recent will Branstad the citizens here in China,” Branstad said.
party congress.
be able to The question remains: How much influence will
“He’s backtracked,” Skidmore said. wield with his Branstad be able to wield with his “old friend” as
two world superpowers see their interests collide?
For his part, Branstad in his early days “old friend”
as ambassador still sees the glass half as two world “I don’t think the U.S. has a clear China policy
full. And, true to his domestic pedigree, superpowers right now,” Skidmore said. And Trump’s withdrawal
he tends to focus on Xi’s progressive from such multilateral deals as TPP leaves a void
side and the economic promise of U.S.- see their for our allies in the region.
China harmony. interests
collide? China, meanwhile, does have a strategy, which
Xi’s administration has arrested or Skidmore said is “working to build a sphere of
disciplined hundreds of thousands influence” largely based on economic dependence.
of Communist party officials in a far-
ranging anti-corruption drive that has What’s at stake is how much that sphere will
been simultaneously praised for rooting shape the future.■
out entrenched bribery while also
helping Xi to consolidate his power.
Compared with a decade ago, China in The question “What he’s done to crack down on corruption and
many ways is more politically repressive. remains: How to address some of the problems with air quality
Five leading news organizations were much influence and things like that I think have been popular with
blocked from even covering the recent will Branstad the citizens here in China,” Branstad said.
party congress.
be able to The question remains: How much influence will
“He’s backtracked,” Skidmore said. wield with his Branstad be able to wield with his “old friend” as
two world superpowers see their interests collide?
For his part, Branstad in his early days “old friend”
as ambassador still sees the glass half as two world “I don’t think the U.S. has a clear China policy
full. And, true to his domestic pedigree, superpowers right now,” Skidmore said. And Trump’s withdrawal
he tends to focus on Xi’s progressive from such multilateral deals as TPP leaves a void
side and the economic promise of U.S.- see their for our allies in the region.
China harmony. interests
collide? China, meanwhile, does have a strategy, which
Xi’s administration has arrested or Skidmore said is “working to build a sphere of
disciplined hundreds of thousands influence” largely based on economic dependence.
of Communist party officials in a far-
ranging anti-corruption drive that has What’s at stake is how much that sphere will
been simultaneously praised for rooting shape the future.■
out entrenched bribery while also
helping Xi to consolidate his power.
