Update: Condi Rice in Asia

You can read the full text of most of Condi Rice’s remarks and interviews here. There’s simply an enormous amount of material for study here. I’m struck by the degree to which Condi sticks to the script, carefully repeating the same points nearly verbatim. The interesting points I take away from her remarks, with links, where appropriate:

(1) The administration is very directly signaling its impatience with the six-party process, and that the U.S. is considering “further measures” without specifying what they are. The N.Y. Times seems to think they mean U.N. sanctions, and although that’s sound speculation, I see nothing to support it. Truth-in-labelling should require the speculation to be marked as such.

(2) The administration is directly challenging China on its own undemocratic society, which is a very positive development for an adminstration that’s been far too cozy and accomodating with the Chinese. The Chinese government’s reaction to her church attendance in Beijing was predictably, contemptably cynical.

(3) Condi is putting strong pressure on China to put pressure of its own on North Korea. It doesn’t seem to be working yet, although there’s some room for hope.

Finally, late-breaking word that the European Union has caved in and will maintain its arms embargo against China. That’s great news for stabilizing Asia until democratic change comes to China, too.