A few weeks ago I noted an op-ed by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who counseled the Obama Administration to move quickly to improve U.S. relations with China. On the surface, it appears that Team Obama may be doing that. According to this CNN report, Hillary Clinton's first official trip abroad as Secretary of State will be to Asia:
Bucking tradition, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will bypass Europe and travel to Asia on her maiden voyage overseas, diplomats familiar with the planning said Tuesday. Clinton is expected to visit China, Japan and South Korea on her first trip overseas. The diplomats said she may also add other stops, including one in Southeast Asia. […] Traditionally U.S. secretaries of state make Europe or the Middle East their first official trip overseas. But given that Vice President Joseph Biden is headed to Europe this week for a security conference in Germany, and special envoy George Mitchell is currently in the Middle East, Clinton is free to break with tradition.
Beneath the surface though trade tensions lurk as a potential flash point. As this report from Forbes points out, Treasury Secretary Geithner's recent comments accusing China of manipulating its currency signal that Obama may be prepared to adopt a much harder line over trade than Bush did. It is yet to be seen though if the State Department or the Treasury Department will take point on relations with China. Perhaps Hillary Clinton's trip to Asia will resolve the matter.
