The most crucial thing on Hillary’s agenda for May 2, 2012 was not reflected on her public schedule as released by the State Department. Nor was her first stop at the Wanhousi Temple.
SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public Schedule for May 2, 2012
May 2, 2012 by still4hill |
A self-taught lawyer, activist, and hero of the people had, with her approval and instructions, been provided refuge at our Embassy Beijing, and blind and injured, stood to disrupt all negotiations at that year’s U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Having made his way to the embassy despite his disability and the physical injuries incurred on his journey to Beijing, Chen Guangcheng had captured media attention and a great deal of American sympathy and Chinese faith. While Hillary believed and acted strongly from her heart that we needed to move on his behalf, his figure, in a few venues – our embassy and a Chinese hospital – threatened to hang between two great nations that were still performing a middle school fox trot.
In this chapter, Hillary recounts how she first hears of Chen’s plight prior to leaving for the very important U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, and made an executive decision to accept him at the embassy (and rescue him in order to do so).
There were a several bumps in that road. Hillary managed to pave them.
Was there ever any doubt?
Hillary Clinton’s Statement on Chen Guangcheng
May 2, 2012 by still4hill |
She made no reference, as she states, to Chen.
Secretary Clinton at Opening of U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue **Video Added**
May 3, 2012 by still4hill |
Hillary Clinton at EcoPartnerships Ceremony
May 3, 2012 by still4hill |
Chen Guangcheng: State Department Update
May 4, 2012 by still4hill |
Video: Hillary Clinton – Timothy Geithner Press Conference in Beijing
May 4, 2012 by still4hill |
Video: Secretary Clinton on U.S.-China Relations in the 21st Century
May 4, 2012 by still4hill |
Hillary ends this chapter with some comments that, on first reading, appear meant to explain China and its way of thinking to the American reader. When I read it again, I thought it just as likely that she also embedded a message there for the Chinese by expressing that rather than wishing to contain China (the Chinese fear) the U.S. seeks cooperation with China for the common good.
As we know, Hard Choices has been effectively banned in China, but we hope that embedded message manages to get through the Great Firewall.
Hillary Clinton’s ‘Hard Choices’ Effectively Banned in China
June 27, 2014 by still4hill |
In the Wake of the Chinese Ban Simon & Schuster Share a Hillary Clinton Excerpt on China
June 27, 2014 by still4hill |
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Hillary Clinton’s ‘Hard Choices’ Retrospective: Introduction
Access other chapters of this retrospective here >>>>
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Still4Hill 
Now that I’ve read most of her book I cannot understand why China is banning it. I thought she wrote the situation with Chen happening at the time of her visit in a sympathetic and understanding way. The Chinese leaders came across as doing the right thing despite complications and even being correct in their assessment that Chen would cause trouble – and he suddenly did do that. The ending was good and she found a way for no loss of face. Also, she got to give a great big “raspberry” to Bohner and the bloviators who were lying about it on
Fox Tee Vee.
Maybe I missed something? Did she come across as too much of the lead role in the situation and the leaders just catering to her? Was it that a dissident who succeeded in being allowed to leave the country?
I thought it showed a human side of the Chinese leaders and their ability to do the right thing and to work with us when a skilled diplomat was on the other side of the table. Go figure.
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After a couple of days of reaction to the Goldberg interview, I have some observations. First, I am very tired of hearing Hillary referred to as a hawk. She believes that isolation is more likely to drag us into wars than non-military engagement. She is clear in this inte that she like the American people, doesn’t want more military (boots on the ground) involvement anywhere. Second, she is muscular about one thing:American Exceptionalism. There are people in the Democratic party now who are followers of Noam Chomsky. They despise the concept of American Exceptionalism, and they despise Hillary for espousing it.
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Unfortunately, I don’t have the link, but there is a withering critique of Obama’s statement that arming Syrian rebels was a fantasy. It’s by Frederic Hof, Hillary’s former Syria advisor at State. It’s called Saving Syria is no Fantasy.
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Sorry, it’s at Politico.
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