Farewell to Gary Locke: Former Controversies Have Already Become Water under the Bridge

The U.S. ambassador to China, Gary Locke, announced his resignation yesterday. It is his intention to be relieved of his post at the start of next year and to return home and be reunited with his family. His sudden resignation has led to various speculations, but for the moment, based on his reasons given, we can view his resignation as normal.

Gary Locke has been in office in China for less than two and a half years, but the attention he has received from Chinese media has far surpassed any of his predecessors. His Chinese-American identity has a natural appeal; the resulting onslaught of attention has helped to uncover many details that have been spread and magnified via the internet, inviting layer upon layer of interpretation and debate. Because of this, Gary Locke has become an exceptional public figure on the stage of public opinion.

Looking back, up until his preparation to leave his post, Gary Locke has been more of a “normal” U.S. ambassador to China. The public’s unusual view of his manner and image is derived, at least in part, from our own sensitivity and expectations. Having been in contact with this ambassador for more than two years, Chinese public opinion ought to have somewhat matured.

First of all, the Chinese public should now have a deeper understanding of the meaning of national interests. When Gary Locke arrived, his Chinese-American identity and outward appearance gave many people a feeling of intimacy; these people could not help but to treat this American ambassador as a “Chinese person.” Nonetheless, Locke soon expressed his commitment and loyalty to U.S. national interests; his status as a Chinese-American has had no effect on that aim. He himself has had no choice but to repeatedly remind us through Chinese media outlets that we should not have any misconceptions about his national identity as a result of his outward appearance.

During Locke’s time in office, U.S.-Chinese relations have assumed a forward trend of development. Despite the occurrence of the Wang Lijun and Chen Guangcheng “mishaps,” there were also highlights including high-level visits between the two countries and discussions on the U.S.-China new major power relationship. In addition, Locke also personally emphasized that he had shortened wait times for Chinese citizens applying for a visa to the United States and that during his time in office both numbers of Chinese citizens visiting the U.S. and U.S. exports to China have increased. Overall, whether we are viewing his time in office from the point of view of the United States or China, his ratings should not be low.

The greatest controversy caused by Gary Locke involved details of his “civilian-style” work and personal life appearing in the Chinese media on many occasions. At the same time, the public availability of the U.S. embassy’s PM2.5* air quality readings in Chinese society have created a stir. Throughout these events and reports, the U.S. embassy and Gary Locke himself received a wide following among Chinese Internet users; this following directly transformed into a venting of dissatisfaction with some of China’s domestic practices.

Looking back, Gary Locke and the U.S. embassy have indeed caused China some embarrassment in these past two years, though I must say, these embarrassments have become one of the many elements that have forced us to reform. What is important is that when all of this has blown over, Chinese society will be more adaptable and resilient; we are moving forward.

Gary Locke has allowed us to see that the distance between China and the U.S. today is much closer and just how easy it is today for factors in the United States to deeply influence Chinese society. In reality, the United States’ soft power is stronger than our own. The differences between various aspects of China and the United States, in addition to China-specific issues, are very easily politicized. Because of globalization and the Internet, it is almost impossible to distinguish how many Chinese opinions expressed online are spontaneously developed and how many result from the guidance and meticulous coordination of the United States.

We do not know whether we should expend great efforts to examine this final question. On the one hand, this may influence our understanding of the nature of these issues; on the other hand, even if it is made clear, the likelihood of preventing the U.S. embassy from influencing China’s Internet is still quite small. Perhaps the thing that China ought to do most is to face this challenge and focus more attention on resolving every issue, to turn China’s changes and ongoing reform efforts into worthwhile news stories, and to defuse the creation by some of the “U.S. embassy model.”

In fact, by the time Gary Locke leaves, China’s progress will have already overtaken the controversies he brought with him. Those controversies will soon become water under the bridge. This makes us all the more in a state of mind to bid farewell to him as an ambassador that advanced the development of U.S.-China relations.

The author is a commentator for Huanqiu Times

*Editor’s note: PM2.5 refers to particulate matter, including all forms of particles found in the air.