That’s pretty much what Tim Johnson had speculated, but I’m surprised the Chinese would be so straightforward about the whole thing. Of course, they aren’t being straightforward at all. The Chinese now deny not only that the decision was the result of a misunderstanding, but that it was their decision at all:
“Reports that Foreign Minister Yang said in the United States that it was a misunderstanding do not accord with the facts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference. “China approved the visit of the Kitty Hawk group to Hong Kong based on humanitarian reasons. The decision made by the U.S. later was up to them.” He did not elaborate.
Rep. Randy Forbes put out a statement this morning in response to all these conflicting reports, and I think he pretty much nails it:
The duplicitous statements coming out of Beijing are emblematic of the way the Chinese conduct their brand of diplomacy and should serve as a cautionary statement to policymakers when dealing with Chinese leaders.
In other news from Red China:
Thousands of military academy students in central China’s Anhui province are rioting after news spread that the government wouldn’t recognize diplomas awarded to the fee-paying students, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports…. A teacher at the academy, surnamed Ren, denied that rioting had occurred but added, “It could happen to any school. There are always some students who do not want to study. Right?” “The majority of the students are good students. Those [who do not like to study] will be severely dealt with. What do the students know? Including the seniors. They have not even gotten their diplomas yet.” “Only a small number of students with their own agenda were fanning the fire. I have told you too much already. If you are a reporter, I advise you not to touch things related to a military academy,” Ren said.
Can’t wait for those Olympics…
