The Ring of the Giants

United States president meets with Chinese leader. Crumbling world power meets with the new world power. Obama meets with Hu. Nothing more important is happening on the earth. Their relationship is poisoned, but they need one another.

It’s likely a coincidence that a Chinese “Tiger-Mother” serves as entertainment for American families these days. That’s the topic of a book by Yale professor Amy Chua; an educational advisor of a different sort, a provocation. In this book, she explains why Chinese children so often bypass American children: because they are mercilessly drilled, like their own daughters, whom they often call “dirty” when their grades are not good enough. No sleepover parties, no kids’ birthdays, absolutely no excuses. Until the fingers nimbly run over the keyboard, the daughters may not go to the bathroom.

Of course, American mothers — and daughters — fall short, despite indignation about the lady, who is criticized as inhumane and cruel. But, at the same time, there is also a certain fear felt: namely, that the fearsome “Tiger-Mother” model is possibly superior. Because America looks toward the East. To Asia, to China. Europe? That is the old world. Day before yesterday. Two competing powers will decide the fortunes of the world in the coming years: the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China.

The “last political insider” and the pop star

Now, the two most powerful men in the world meet each other, and they could hardly be more different: U.S. President Barack Obama, who appears so casual, and Hu Jinato, the State President of the People’s Republic of China, whose written interviews are best. The “last political insider,” as the U.S. magazine, Newsweek, wrote. The White House runs through Pomp and Circumstance. Everything the protocol calls for: 21 gun salutes, as well as two private dinners (which are much more official than state dinners), which only government-selected visitors will be granted entry. Such festivities have been bestowed by Obama only upon the presidents of Mexico and India. And, of course, President Hu. In Washington, each will show the other respect and promise cooperation, and, certainly, it often will be said that it was a very historic visit.

And it is, yes, a daunting symbol: the authoritarian China presents itself, powerfully, self-confidently, and confident of victory — the U.S., equally so. Already, the state-visit has been called the meeting of the “G2,” unlike the lame palaver of the G7 or G8, where Europeans still set the tone.

The period of humility is over

When venerable, polite establishments look back, they may remember this, nostalgically, as the first historic visit of its kind. Thirty-two years ago, when a certain Deng Xiaoping came to America, he was small and tough, smoked and sputtered, and was thrilled to watch a rodeo in Texas. His visit was the symbol for the opening of China, for an exemplary economic success story that has allowed China, within less than a decade, to become the second largest economic power of the world. Deng Xiaoping, the godfather of modern China, also formulated a foreign policy strategy: Humility. Hold back, as long as China is not equal to other powers.

The period of humility is over. China aggressively flexes its muscles. In a few years, it will be seen as irreversible: China will be the most powerful economic power in the world. Who, if not China, contributed decisively to overcoming the economic crisis, caused by the West, with a giant stimulus program for its own country, with the mass purchase of bonds from ailing EU countries, like Greece, Portugal and Spain. China’s increasing consumption will finance the economic recovery in countries like Germany.

Two panda bears named Sunshine and Sweetie

A deputy presidential minister was visiting Europe. In Berlin, he signed contracts worth eight million euros, and in Great Britain, he left behind a symbolic gift for the Edinburgh Zoo: two panda bears, named Sunshine and Sweetie.