• Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Global logoCarnegie lettermark logo
DemocracyIran
  • Donate
{
  "authors": [
    "Minxin Pei"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "asia",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "AP",
  "programs": [
    "Asia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North America",
    "United States",
    "East Asia",
    "China"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

In The Media

President Obama in China

Despite a lack of concrete deliverables, President Obama’s trip to Asia still accomplished the important objective of showing China that the United States is serious about engaging the region and remaining a Pacific power.

Link Copied
By Minxin Pei
Published on Nov 17, 2009
Program mobile hero image

Program

Asia

The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

Learn More

Source: The Diane Rehm Show

During his nine-day tour of Asia, President Obama met with Chinese President Hu Jintao to seek common ground on critical issues. The two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of topics on the bilateral agenda, including trade, climate change, human rights, nuclear weapons and U.S. debt.
 
In a panel discussion on NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show, Minxin Pei assesses President Obama’s trip to China, highlighting some of the opportunities and challenges of the meeting. Pei expected Iran to be a key concern in the discussions, as the recent deal between the United States and Russia has left China diplomatically isolated in refusing to impose sanctions. On the issue of North Korea, Pei also cautioned against expecting a breakthrough in discussions between Obama and Hu, noting that the Chinese president does not enjoy autonomy in his policy decision-making and must confer with the collective leadership of the 9-member Politburo standing committee. Despite a lack of concrete deliverables, Obama’s trip still accomplished at least one important objective of showing China - and all of Asia - that the United States is serious about engaging the region and remaining a Pacific power.

About the Author

Minxin Pei

Former Adjunct Senior Associate, Asia Program

Pei is Tom and Margot Pritzker ‘72 Professor of Government and the director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College.

    Recent Work

  • In The Media
    How China Can Avoid the Next Conflict

      Minxin Pei

  • In The Media
    Small Change

      Minxin Pei

Minxin Pei
Former Adjunct Senior Associate, Asia Program
Minxin Pei
Foreign PolicyNorth AmericaUnited StatesEast AsiaChina

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    Trump Blindsides Ukraine But Gives Europe an Opportunity

    Ahead of a tough winter for Ukraine, Donald Trump’s swing back toward Russia bodes ill. But instead of panicking, Kyiv’s European allies are focusing on action.

      • Rym Momtaz

      Rym Momtaz

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    How Will Trump and Putin’s Diesel Deal Impact Russia and Global Markets?

    Without a ceasefire with Ukraine on attacking each other’s energy infrastructure—to which the Kremlin is unlikely to agree—the diesel agreement between Putin and Trump is largely for show, rather than representing a genuine increase in the volumes of Russian diesel on the global market.

      • Sergey Vakulenko

      Sergey Vakulenko

  • Two men wave and point to the sky against a dark background
    Commentary
    Emissary
    "Digger" May Be the Most Influential Climate Movie Yet

    Despite its flop at the box office, the film raises important questions for the climate community to answer.

      Leonardo Martinez-Diaz

  • Commentary
    Turning Russian Assets into Financing for Ukraine Now

    Funding Ukraine remains a priority for European leaders. As Russia’s war of aggression heads into another winter, two feasible options to mobilize support for Kyiv should be fast-tracked.

      Vladyslav Rashkovan, Gregory P. Wilson

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    An American Muslim Exception?

    In an interview, Rozina Ali discusses her new book on the rise and manifestations of Islamophobia in the United States.

      Michael Young

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie global logo, stacked
1779 Massachusetts Avenue NWWashington, DC, 20036-2103Phone: 202 483 7600
  • Research
  • Emissary
  • About
  • Experts
  • Donate
  • Programs
  • Events
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts
  • Contact
  • Annual Reports
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
  • Government Resources
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.