The AP reports on Jon Huntsman’s confirmation:
The Senate on Friday confirmed Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as ambassador to China, giving the Republican the task of nurturing a sometimes shaky relationship that President Barack Obama sees as crucial to solving many of the world’s most difficult crises.
The Senate also confirmed John Roos, a lawyer and Obama campaign fundraiser, as U.S. ambassador to Japan. Both were confirmed by unanimous consent.
Huntsman’s confirmation sends to Beijing a fluent Chinese speaker with deep social, government and business ties to the region. It also allows Obama to bring into his administration a popular Republican leader seen as a potential challenger for the presidency in 2012.
