US erred in leaving China on sidelines: Dutch journalist
Updated: 2015-10-23 08:10
By Fu Jing(China Daily Europe)
|
|||||||||
Fokke Obbema says China needs to make the transition to a consumption-led economy. Provided to China Daily |
Dutch writer faults Obama's decision-making over new bank and new trade agreement
Fokke Obbema, a Dutch journalist and author of China and the West, has criticized United States President Barack Obama for trying to contain China, which he believes has been fulfilling its global responsibilities appropriately.
The first mistake, says Obbema, was that the US tried and failed to discourage some countries from supporting the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, an institution intended to boost connectivity in Eurasia.
A second error came early this month, when Obama said that "countries like China" should not be allowed to write the rules of the global economy. "We should write those rules," the president said in a statement, "opening new markets to American products while setting high standards for protecting workers and preserving our environment." He made the remarks after the US, Japan and 10 other countries had concluded an historic trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
"To be honest, I was also a little shocked by these words, and I thought they were really harsh," says Obbema, speaking to China Daily from South Korea. "And it was a bit unlike him... advocating enemy-thinking."
Obbema visited China in 2008, the year the Olympics was held in Beijing. The dynamism, energy and rapid changes in Beijing and Shanghai fascinated him. It was a shock to the system and a contrast from the cliches and reports about the fast-developing country. The experience inspired him to write a book about China.
In 2009, when the world was in the grip of a financial crisis and recession, China came under fire following the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. Such intense events drove Obbema, a senior journalist at the Dutch daily newspaper de Volkskrant, to find out more about China's transformation.
- President Xi visits Man City football club
- British PM Cameron treats President Xi to beer, fish and chips in English pub
- Xi hails role of Confucius institutes
- First Lady visits London's prestigious Royal College of Music
- From Bond to Beckham: Highlights of Xi's speech at the Guildhall banquet
- Beloved panda was wartime ambassador warming hearts of people
- China and UK in the eyes of each other's painters
- President Xi, first lady Peng attend Guildhall banquet in London
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
8 highlights about V-day Parade |
Glimpses of Tibet: Plateaus, people and faith |
Chinese entrepreneurs remain optimistic despite economic downfall |
50th anniversary of Tibet autonomous region |
Tianjin explosions: Deaths, destruction and bravery |
Cinemas enjoy strong first half |
Today's Top News
Tu first Chinese to win Nobel Prize in Medicine
Huntsman says Sino-US relationship needs common goals
Xi pledges $2 billion to help developing countries
Young people from US look forward to Xi's state visit: Survey
US to accept more refugees than planned
Li calls on State-owned firms to tap more global markets
Apple's iOS App Store suffers first major attack
Japan enacts new security laws to overturn postwar pacifism
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |