From the Australian: “Privately, senior Chinese officials were said to be hoping for a John Kerry victory, because the Democrats are seen as better disposed to China. Despite progress in the relationship during his presidency, Mr Bush has never quite been forgiven for changing China early in his first term to the status of ‘strategic competitor’, in contrast to the friendlier ‘strategic partner’ characterisation of his predecessor, Bill Clinton… China preferred Senator Kerry for his promise of bilateral talks with North Korea to resolve the nuclear stand-off. Beijing is frustrated by what it sees as Mr Bush’s intransigent insistence on the stalled six-party talks. ” The full story is here.
MSNBC also reported on popular and official reaction in China to the US election: “Popular sentiments among ordinary Chinese remained pro-Kerry, but the projection of a Bush re-election did not come as a surprise to Chinese officials and scholars who monitored the closely contested U.S. presidential elections.”
The IHT also reports on reactions around Asia including China, as well as on the declining influence of the US in Asia as China begins to take a more prominent role.
