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Bush Beijing Arrival Hazy in More Ways than One

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August 07, 2008 12:48 PM

ABC News’ Jennifer Duck reports from Beijing, China: It was more than the air quality making President Bush’s arrival in Beijing a little hazy.

Soon after Air Force One touched down, a thick smog encompassed the president, First Lady Laura Bush and their daughter Barbara as they were greeted with smiles by ambassadors and Chinese diplomats.

Causing more of a political haze in the country was a speech Bush gave in Bangkok, Thailand many hours before he touched down in Beijing.

In a delicate balancing act, Bush voiced his “deep concern” over religious freedom and human rights in China but attempted to avoid a clash with the country before the Olympic Games by timing the speech nearly twelve hours before stepping foot in China. 

“The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings,” Bush said in Bangkok. “So America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists. We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly, and labor rights not to antagonize China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential. We press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs.”

However, the timing and distance didn’t stop the Chinese government from delivering a terse response to the speech.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang responded in a statement saying, "We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues.”

Human rights groups and members of Congress including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been pushing Bush to speak out strongly on human rights while in Beijing, but it’s unlikely he will.  Although the president will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and discuss political issues, Bush has made clear he will use the last leg of his Asian trip to see the Olympics as a spectator at a sporting event instead of having a four-day focus on politics.

“The reason I'm going to the Olympics is two-fold: one, to show my respect for the people of China; and two, to cheer on the U.S. team,” Bush said at the start of his trip to Asia.  “And by the way, the order ought to be reversed as to why I may -- went. I hope our team wins as many gold medals as possible; and if not win gold, silver; and if not silver, bronze.”

Bush, a former co-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, has said he is excited to see the opening ceremonies, the US-China baseball practice game on Monday and a Team USA basketball game over the weekend.

Aides say the president, who is known to spend hours mountain biking on weekends in DC and at his ranch in Texas, may ride on the Olympic mountain bike trail.

August 7, 2008 in Veepstakes, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (14)

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Even though Bush is personally against abortion, the US kills 1.5 million a year with less than 1% related to incest, birth defects, or rape. We have no business as a nation telling others how to conduct their affairs in a moral manner.

Posted by: Sally | Aug 7, 2008 1:08:43 PM

I wonder if he will say anything on these issues while in the PRC or instead will be silent and show another definition of Peking Duck.

Posted by: bhciapol | Aug 7, 2008 1:32:01 PM

He sticks his nose where it clearly doesn't belong, then ignores the issues where his nose should be.
"The only candidate who served with his head up his ***!

Posted by: DAVID NH | Aug 7, 2008 1:36:24 PM

you have to admit with bush it certainly does not get any better.should have taken his cousin mcbush with him.

Posted by: rodney | Aug 7, 2008 1:50:57 PM

human rights....uhmmmmm..... not sure but does that not fall under listening in on phone calls or arresting someone with no just cause??? Didn't we just lose that as citizens of the United States of America.

Posted by: beck | Aug 7, 2008 1:53:37 PM

We throw the "driver" on our enemy in a torture dungeon for 6 years, then parade him out before a kangaroo court to be sentenced to 30 years in prison, and this moron speaks of CHINA'S human rights problem.

Posted by: JR | Aug 7, 2008 2:03:20 PM


He is just as uncouth as Hugo Chavez .
It just like going to a party and criticize the host in public for beating his wife .
What ever happened to quiet diplomacy ?

Posted by: Andy A | Aug 7, 2008 2:22:05 PM

I saw a picture and story on another newsite of huge crowds meeting Bush, chanting his name and with a big sign "Welcome President Bush!"

Gosh, I'm shocked none (at least that I saw) of the MSM bothered to cover that. Gotta keep busy covering the 5 people protests of republicans or their issues.

Lol.

Posted by: Jo | Aug 7, 2008 3:05:48 PM

Yeah, Reagan was hated by the left, just like Bush.

How did that turn out? Oh yeah, most beloved president ever in some polls.

Lol.

Posted by: Jo | Aug 7, 2008 3:06:57 PM

Unfortunately no one listens to mr Bush anymore because of all the lies he has told the last 7 years.
Yet, the fact that in this case he did speak up (a little) about Chinese abhorrent human rights issues, deserves applause. Now, whilst he IS in China, can we send him the Tibet flag, pamphlets about Darfur and Birma..and ofcourse Kyoto? and ask him to hand bravely those items around and speak up some more..with a louder voice perhaps?

Posted by: brigitte | Aug 7, 2008 3:16:18 PM

for the athletes, olympics are all about winning a gold medal;

for the big sponsors and money chasers, olympics are all about making the most bucks;

for the chinese government, it is a diversion of focus regarding many an issue, both internally and internationally...

Posted by: trustyourheart | Aug 7, 2008 3:52:49 PM

Thunder and fury signifying nothing... like it or not we have a symbiotic relationship with China now. Bush is giving lip service to the public's opposition of China's totalitarianism, but he knows too well that our economies are intertwined. China is our manufacturing sector and they own enough US dollars to tank the economy should the Chinese government decide to unload them. Bush doesn't have a record of standing up for civil liberties; I find the notion he'd go to bat in any meaningful way for the rights of Chinese citizens laughable.

Posted by: Bryce | Aug 7, 2008 6:30:29 PM

Jo - not by me. I'm originally from Nicaragua - and yes, I'm legal - and my mother and her sister were raped and murdered by Reagan's contra killers who he called "freedom fighters". They weren't communists or even political - they were TEACHERS. That is your Reagan - a WAR CRIMINAL just like Bush!

Posted by: diego r. | Aug 7, 2008 7:13:31 PM

I'm not that old, but I remember when a U.S. President could talk about human rights without the entire world laughing.

Posted by: Aleks | Aug 7, 2008 10:34:12 PM

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