From AFP:
China is watching the US presidential election closely, and whether the winner is Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain, the priority for Beijing is to maintain stable ties with Washington.
The strong interest of the Chinese, awed by US power yet irritated by lectures on human rights, is shown in extensive media coverage, new titles in book stores, and even opinion surveys on the Internet.
As in the West, it is the “phenomenon” Obama who makes the difference and the Chinese are particularly intrigued by the idea that a black person could move into the Oval Office for the first time.
But no matter who comes wins the election on November 4, China wants a stable relationship with the United States in order to create an environment allowing it to pursue its overall goal of economic and social development.
