Obama takes on China-US ties

Uriah and Deepa
GAOC- Eastern Europe, Central and Northern Asia
1/29/09

Byline: Al Jazeera Beijing correspondent Melissa Chan looks at what changes - or otherwise - Barack Obama will bring to US-China relations.
From: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/01/200912735628322980.htmlpeople

There are many issues that the U.S. is facing that President Obama must address. Some of these issues are the Economy and the environment. After only a week in the White house it is obvious Obama is focused on fixing the economy. He is also working on the two wars in Afghanistan and the many terrorist attack around the world. It is clear Obama has a lot of things to accomplish, but china is wondering where they stand on that list. For now it doesn’t seem like they’ve become a higher priority on the list.
The U.S. and China are two major powers that depend on each other. These two countries must have a peaceful relationship. They especially need to work together to improve the economy. However there remains tension between China and the U.S. on other important matters which may strain their relationship. Some Americans would like the U.S. to put pressure on China so the Chinese Government can put pressure the “Sudanese government over the conflict in Darfur” (Obama takes on China 1). The in China are hoping President Obama will step up and start talking and helping issues like the Tibet and Beijing’s human rights record.
Another priority on Obama’s list is the environment. China and the United States are the two largest countries in the world and they are the top countries who produce the most greenhouse gasses. If the U.S. and China work together peacefully Obama believes they can useful resources to help save the environment.
Obama is also working with other countries to improve their relationships. In his inaugural he stated “We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Many people across the world wonder which countries he was talking about. Some believe Iran is a possibility, but the first idea that comes to the people in Beijing is the North Korea issue. Because the leader in North Korea is ill it could be one of the biggest challenges Obama has with negotiating denuclearization.