Bush: Skipping Opening Ceremony "An Affront To The Chinese"

TOYAKO, Japan — President Bush on Sunday defended removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and attending the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics as world leaders assembled to address soaring gas prices, climate change and African aid.

They faced major differences, especially over how far to go in trying to set limits on pollutants that contribute to global warming.

The host of this year's Group of Eight summit, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and other leaders would like to see the top industrialized nations and other fast-growing economies such as China and India pledge a 50 percent cut by 2050 in the emissions that contribute to global warming. The Bush administration has not shown any enthusiasm for such a commitment without cooperation from the Chinese and Indians.

"I've always advocated that there needs to be a common understanding and that starts with a goal. And I also am realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don't share that same aspiration, that we're not going to solve the problem," Bush said at a pre-summit news conference with Fukuda.

The leaders of the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia planned to kick off the meeting Monday at a remote mountaintop resort overlooking a lake formed by a volcanic crater on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The session ends Wednesday with a larger gathering that brings in eight additional countries _ Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

Hundreds of protesters rallied under heavy police security Sunday. A demonstration by about 2,500 people on Saturday led to a brief clash with police; four people, including a television cameraman, were detained. Protesters have not been able to get near the summit venue, but have scheduled daily rallies about 60 miles north, in Sapporo, the largest nearby city.

Before the G-8 talks, Bush planned to meet with Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, who took office last month as ex-President Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor. Putin still wields enormous influence at home as prime minister.

White House aides said Bush hoped to bring up areas were the countries could cooperate more, including missile defense and Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization.

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Medvedev's appearance could help him make the case he is emerging from Putin's shadow and carving out a leadership role. In an interview with journalists from G-8 countries last week, Medvedev suggested that he, not Putin, is in charge.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has urged stripping Russia of its G-8 membership because of autocratic steps by Putin. Neither fellow Republican Bush nor Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama shares that view.

Ahead of the Bush-Medvedev meeting, the Kremlin issued a statement suggesting that good personal ties are developing between Bush and the new president and that a transition period following the change of presidents in Russia "was practically unneeded." The statement, by the Kremlin press service, mentions that Bush will be replaced next January, but that in the meantime "we have a lot of work on the current agenda with the Bush administration..."

"The overall balance of the Russian-American strategic dialogue remains positive, but that of course does not mean there are no `serious differences,' said the statement. For instance, on missile defense, the Kremlin said, "our basic approaches still differ."

At a news conference with Fukuda, Bush defended his decision to attend the Olympics opening ceremonies Aug. 8. Among the leaders who plan to skip that event are British Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is considering not attending.

China's role as host has focused attention on its human rights record and the security crackdown in Tibet; some U.S. conservatives have criticized Bush for planning to go to the opening ceremonies.

"The Chinese people are watching very carefully about the decisions by world leaders and I happen to believe that not going to the opening ceremony for the games would be an affront to the Chinese people, which may make it more difficult to be able to speak frankly with the Chinese leadership," the president said.

Fukuda announced that he also intended to go.

"There are many aspiring athletes that will be going to Beijing, and I would like to cheer them on, too, which I think is only natural. I don't think you really have to link Olympics to politics," the prime minister said.

Bush also addressed Japanese concerns over the kidnapping of Japanese citizens by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Those abducted apparently were used to train North Korean agents in Japanese language and customs.

Japanese citizens are upset about the U.S. move to remove North Korea from the State Department's terror blacklist in exchange for the North's decision to admit to some of its nuclear weapons work and begin dismantling its nuclear facilities.

As a condition for sending aid and improving relations with the impoverished North, Japan long has pushed for the resolution of the issue of the abductions.

Bush recalled a White House meeting a few years ago with Sakie Yokota, the mother of a 13-year-old Japanese girl kidnapped by North Koreans agents on her way home from school in 1977. "As a father of little girls, I can't imagine what it would be like to have my daughter just disappear," Bush said at the news conference. "So, Mr. Prime Minister, as I told you on the phone when I talked to you and in the past, the United States will not abandon you on this issue."

Bush said the two leaders also talked about the gloomy economy. Many of the world's older economic powers are suffering from low growth.

"With regard to soaring food and oil prices, which are having negative impact on the world economy, we agreed there's a need for expeditious efforts on these fronts," he said.

The U.S. economy, he said, "is not growing as robustly as we'd like. ... We're not as strong as we have been during a lot of my presidency." He hoped the economic aid checks going out to many in the U.S. "will continue to have a positive effect."

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On the Net:

Group of Eight summit: http://www.g8summit.go.jp/eng/

Comments

[Snoop2]

Butt kisser to the world is at it again. First the Saudis now the Chinese commies. Its' amazing how low you can go when your country is broke nothing like a little begging!

[Village]

This from a man whose presidency is an affront to most of the world, and he hasn't got a clue.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Wonder if they'll have a co-torture theme.
What a hypocritical ass. He's sold us out to the Commu-capitalists (Commutalists?) in Beijing.

[darthmaul]

Good word, but I like Capicomms better (Copyright Pending).

[Marysdude]

It is not acceptable to shun the Cinese people by forgoing the Olimpic Opening Ceramony, But it is perfectly acceptable to lie our way into a invasion of a nation...hmmm...

[Tages72]

In a perfect world, a Bizarro-like version of Bush would have imposed sanctions on the Chinese, opened up relations with Taiwan, and given them the right to manufacture products as a way of countering the Chinese's continuing efforts to spy on our government agencies, scold anyone who even points a finger towards them, and wag their nuke-powered dog whenever they can't get things done their way.

China was the spoiled brat of the modern world, all grown up into a frightening bully that is full of envy and scorn for those who don't play the game according to their rules.

BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS.

[Tages72]

Nixon's trips to China and Russia did nothing to improve relations except to appease them. In Russia's case, internal turmoil over the collapse of the old Communist system did the trick for them, although under Vladimir Putin things like freedom of speech are still ruled over with an iron fist. The old Bolsheviks became drug smugglers and joined the Russian Mafia. Other than that, civil wars began arising and some Russians now yearn for the good old days "when everyone was the same."

China, however, has bled Commie Red since Mao died. Most Favored Nation status and the threat of U.S. interference were Taiwan to be invaded are the key factors that keep them at bay. There is no difference between how their people are treated as compared to Iraq under Hussein. Bush knows this, just like every other POTUS before him. I fear Obama will be no different in this regard.

It takes a leader with enough courage and determination to seek out out of this economic quagmire we've been locked into wth China. What if the Cuban Embargo had been applied to the Chinese since 1949 over the same reasons? Would they be a nuclear superpower who sells inferior products to half of the world using child labor?

It is all simply disgusting...

[darthmaul]

Hey, not so much child labor, but prison labor for sure. Also one theory behind why there is so many executions, is the profitable market in body parts! I actually read a SF story based on a similar theme. In this country jay walking became a death offense!

[dr4Will]

This jerk is an affront to the American people--how this half baked man could make that excuse to get this free trip on us is arrogance at is worse--the Chinese have lied,cheated and spy-ed on us and all this ineffective president can say is he doesn't want them mad at us--God help us these last 6 month from this idiot!

[anelder]

We cannot continue to trade and do business with the Chinese and then insult them. It's either or and I doubt you would like us ceasing all trade and business. You sound, to me, as someone who is an extreme and a no compromise man. Stand fast fella, glad there are saner heads at work.

Lest someone mistake this for any kind of approval for the current president - your mistaken. However, I do know that at lower levels of government, and most likely unbeknowest for Mr. Bush, conversations and progress go on with various of our troubled partners.

[LettuceB1]

Skipping Opening Ceremony "An Affront To The Chinese"

How about, Skipping Human Rights "An Affront To The Whole World"

I just keep counting the days till Bush the War Criminal is out of office!!

[quintus]

Pathetic moral lassitude. Actually, his morals aren't merely flaccid, they're D.O.A.

[TaxTheRichNow]

So now he's concerned about committing "an affront to the Chinese". That didn't seem to concern him much when he hosted a "state luncheon" for Hu Jintao a while back. And compounded that stupidity by referring to Mr. Hu as the president of the "Republic of China" (aka Taiwan) rather than the "People's Republic of China" (that is, the communists). For his part, Mr Hu continued his world tour, having a candid conversation with President Hugo Chavez (including, no doubt, a state dinner) and very likely locking up Venezuela's 1.2 trillion barrels of heavy crude down in the Orinoco Belt. i would be not at all surprised to learn that Mr. Hu provided Mr. Chavez with certain "security assurances" should the Gringos attempt to steal that oil as well. I wonder what those assurances might entail.

[jayburd]

Even though it smacks of hypocrisy I agree with the POTUS not attending the Olympics. We have to take what can be perceived as a stand against human rights abuses in China. Even a wimpy one such as this is better than nothing.

[JennyJay]

Not only THE WORST presidnet we have ever had . . . but also THE DUMBEST!

[lexnekst]

I think that Bush knows our troops our over already to overworkerd to even make the mistake of offending China or Iran...the debt is obvious, but he is just plain scared. " Affront to China." There are many people in africa that China have been afronted by China....sigh...Still President Bush...

[ultomatt]

Don't want to anger the people who are covering your debt. Play nice with the people who are allowing you to attack countries without provocation...or else they'll make you stop!

[KoreanVet]

Yeah, thats what I'm talking about. Actually, I'm surprised the Chinese allowed a war criminal entry to their country.

[darthmaul]

With Mao responsible for the death of over 40 million of his own citizens, I doubt the Chinese are troubled by Bush's actions. He's an amateur compared to them.

[SteamRanger]

As though there were ever any question that Dubya would pass up a chance at being center stage. I predict that he really starts hitting the bottle heavy after January and he's no longer the center of attention. What a sad little man.

[Azmom]

It would be akin to pissing off Tony Soprano, now wouldn't it?

[OilWarsDotCom]

The bush crime family has always had financial ties with China. The Communist Chinese hold quite a bit of American debt. Americans purchase much of the "stuff" in their homes that is made in China - been to a Wally Mart lately? We are screwed, but we let it happen. We feel into the traps set by bush and the american corporations which are his handlers. Why they hate us - http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0802b.asp makes for interesting reading. We have met the enemy and it is US!