Has President Obama Run Out Of Patience With China?

This informal dinner meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and their close advisers on Sept. 24 was a catalyst for a harder White House line on Beijing's territorial claims. © Xinhua/Kyodo

Hiroyuki Akita, Nikkei Asian Review: Obama runs out of patience with Beijing

WASHINGTON -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's refusal to back down over his country's island-building campaign in disputed waters has hardened U.S. President Barack Obama's attitude toward Beijing.

Broadly speaking, world leaders can be grouped into two categories. The first includes those who believe they can solve disagreements through discussion, regardless of the adversary. In the second group are those who think that some opponents can never be reasoned with.

Obama is a prime example of the first type. High-ranking U.S. government officials say he is generally reluctant to deploy the military. But even Obama can be pushed to the end of his tether -- as illustrated by Xi's recent visit to the U.S.

WNU Editor: President Obama may run out of patience with China, but the Chinese know that he is a lame duck and that fundamentally the U.S. is limited on what they can do. More to the point .... the Chinese view the U.S. as a declining power, and that with time .... 10, 20, 30 years .... the U.S. will not even be a factor when it comes to Chinese foreign policy on its borders.