Fresh off the triumph of their humiliation of President Obama during his Asian trip, this week the Chinese decided to stomp on America's Hat. I am, of course, referring to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's public dressing down of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during their joint appearance in Beijing today. Wen apparently stunned diplomatic and media onlookers with his uncharacteristic (for him) rudeness toward the Canadian leader, who was making his first visit to China since taking office in 2006. The apparent source of Chinese unhappiness was a distinct failure by the barbarians to come calling at court in a timely fashion.
Yes, the Middle Kingdom demands a certain amount of groveling when you come to the center of their universe. That's how the Chinese prefer the foreigners.
And you can be sure that however poorly we think we did in China on our visit, there is only one reason we didn't get the Canadian treatment.
Our government should consider how their policies reduce our national power relative to China.
