Michelle Obama‘s absence from the American-Chinese summit in California was a diplomatic misstep, Daniel W. Drezner, a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, argued on Foreign Policy (behind a registration wall, possibly). Her absence was an own-goal, Drezner believes, because this was one of the rather few occasions where she could really have mattered in the world of politics. Too many Chinese might be disappointed that America’s first lady didn’t meet up with China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan.
Reportedly, Mrs Obama wanted to stay in Washington, to celebrate the birthday of one of her daughters.
Isaac Stone Fish disagreed with Drezner’s criticism. He referred to the songs Peng used to sing in full PLA gear, and especially this song, where she pretended to be Tibetan, lauding the PLA for “liberating” Tibet.
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Related
» Domestic Responsibilities, SMH, June 7, 2013
» The only Disharmony, May 27, 2013
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