David Cay Johnston: “Tomorrow in Brunei, the Secretary of State is going to meet with Chinese foreign minister Qian Qichen to discuss a very…”

“Tomorrow in Brunei, the Secretary of State is going to meet with Chinese foreign minister Qian Qichen to discuss a very serious rift between China and the United States which has been brewing for some time and which has more recently erupted over the visit of President Lee of Taiwan to the United States. My colleagues, I think, are fully aware of the importance of the China-American relationship. In my view, it is the single most bilateral relationship the United States has. Whether that characterization is correct, it is clear, Mr. President, that China is the key to Asia. It is the largest country, one of the fastest growing in the world. If our relationship with China and Asia is secure, then our relationship with Asia, for the most part, is secure. If that relationship begins to spiral downward, as it has in recent months, then it portends terrible things for the United States-- terrible things not only for our bilateral relationship, but for peace in the world.”