US President Barack Obama disembarks from Air Force One at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, China September 3, 2016. (Reuters photo)
Reuters: Row on tarmac an awkward G20 start for U.S., China
A Chinese official confronted U.S. President Barack Obama's national security adviser on the tarmac on Saturday prompting the Secret Service to intervene, an unusual altercation as China implements strict controls ahead of a big summit.
The stakes are high for China to pull off a trouble-free G20 summit of the world's top economies, its highest profile event of the year, as it looks to cement its global standing and avoid acrimony over a long list of tensions with Washington.
Shortly after Obama's plane landed in the eastern city of Hangzhou, a Chinese official attempted to prevent his national security adviser Susan Rice from walking to the motorcade as she crossed a media rope line, speaking angrily to her before a Secret Service agent stepped between the two.
Rice responded but her comments were inaudible to reporters standing underneath the wing of Air Force One. It was unclear if the official, whose name was not immediately clear, knew that Rice was a senior official and not a reporter.
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Update #1: Tarmac altercation, press dispute mar opening of Obama's trip to China (Politico)
Update #2: 'This is our country, our airport,' shouts Chinese official as Barack Obama lands for G20 summit (AFP)
WNU Editor: This rarely happens. When these visits happen the diplomats on both sides exchange a list of names, pictures, etc. on who are the visitors, and the protocols that must be respected from landing at the airport .... to the hotel .... to where the meetings are held .... etc.. Someone on the Chinese side screwed up .... big time .... unless this was done deliberately .... hmmmm ....
Update: This story is getting better with time .... U.S., Chinese officials get into 'heated' scrap ahead of climate pact signing (Washington Examiner).
Editor,
ReplyDeleteYou know the Chinese...
I have a hard time believing this was a "screw up". This was deliberate and the Chinese are putting the U.S. on notice that they do not appreciate their attitude nor will they bow down. Time and time again I've seen Chinese in the industry I work in loudly tear a strip off of some woe-be-gotten Canadian who had disrespected or offended them.
They are not like Canadians/North Americans. They don't play games and when they are sick of someone's bulls#-+, look out.
RRH. My gut is telling me that the Chinese officials on the ground were told that if the U.S. delegation breaks any protocol .... even a minor one like Susan Rice crossing a media rope-line .... to hit back hard. Th Chinese are sending a message.
ReplyDeleteBreak out the popcorn. The Obama administration is absolutely the most arrogant, incompetent, self-entitled group of people we've ever had in power. Makes me chuckle to see them dissed by a equally arrogant, belligerent regime.
ReplyDelete/all I can do is sit back and watch this trainwreck. When Hillary Clinton is installed in the WH come January the arrogance, incompetence and entitlement will only increase.
Not likely,the oligarchs got to pin it on the Republicans when everything goes into chaos. It's how the game is played. The Democrats don't want to look worse than what they look like now.
DeleteNot likely,the oligarchs got to pin it on the Republicans when everything goes into chaos. It's how the game is played. The Democrats don't want to look worse than what they look like now.
Delete"Chinese are sending a message." Very much so.
ReplyDeleteThat's just funny: a communist practice meeting an incompetent US administration.
ReplyDelete