Disappointment in China over Michelle Obama`s absence
While President Barack Obama is meeting with China`s president in California this weekend, some Chinese are disappointed that first lady Michelle Obama will not be on the trip.
|Last Updated: Jun 06, 2013, 11:30 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Washington: While President Barack Obama is meeting with China`s president in California this weekend, some Chinese are disappointed that first lady Michelle Obama will not be on the trip.
The first lady`s office would only say she was staying in Washington to be with family. Monday is younger daughter Sasha Obama`s 12th birthday, and Mrs. Obama early on declared herself "mom in chief" and always has said her girls come first.
Summit between President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow and Saturday are their first since Xi was installed in March. They were meeting at Sunnylands, a sprawling desert estate with a private golf course in Rancho Mirage.
A White House official said the Chinese government asked about Mrs. Obama`s plans when the trip was scheduled several weeks ago and was told she was not able to make it. The official, speaking on a condition of anonymity without authorisation to discuss trip negotiations on the record, said the Chinese never complained or raised the question again.
But a person in Beijing familiar with the preparations said that when National Security Adviser Tom Donilon visited last week to hammer out plans for the summit, both sides talked as if the two women would meet.
Publicly, Beijing is muting any hurt feelings over Mrs. Obama`s no-show at Sunnylands. Asked whether her absence was regrettable, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "Regarding the relevant arrangements on the US side, we respect them."
But disappointment over Mrs. Obama`s absence was palpable if not vehement in some Chinese mainstream and social media. Xi`s wife, Peng Liyuan, is a rare commodity in Chinese politics, a popular political spouse known for her style and poise who has been accompanying Xi on his diplomatic travels.
Peng holds the rank of major general in the People`s Liberation Army and was a popular singer on state television, best known for her stirring renditions of patriotic odes, often while wearing full dress uniform. Many Chinese were interested in seeing how she compares with the United States` own glamorous, high profile first lady.
Zhang Ming, an international studies expert at Renmin University in Beijing, was quoted on social media as calling Mrs. Obama`s absence from their husbands` meeting as "strange for normal diplomatic protocol."
"The Chinese public will actually be quite unhappy, because they are quite proud of their first lady`s role in diplomacy," Zhang said in a telephone interview. "If Michelle doesn`t go, it will make it difficult for our first lady to perform."
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.