By Sunny Lee
Korea Times Correspondent
BEIJING ― U.S. President Barack Obama's Asian tour confirmed what everyone had long suspected: the rise of China is clear and present.
The Middle Kingdom was the conspicuous highlight of Obama's first visit to the region since his inauguration. He spent four days in China out of his eight-day Asian schedule that covered four nations ― a virtual acknowledgement of the prestige of China.
China's ever-growing importance was manifested when Obama himself reportedly used the term "G2" - a widespread media pet word indicating the U.S. and China as the two leading global powers - during his meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing.
All this is part of America's new policy of prioritizing China in its global strategic map.
Interestingly, South Korea is seen to be making a similar "upgrade" toward Beijing as well. It's going to send a key aide of President Lee Myung-bak as the new ambassador to China.
Ryu Woo-ik, former chief secretary of the presidential office, who was symbolically purged last year in Lee's bid to quell public anger over his decision to resume U.S. beef imports, is now being tapped for the new position, in an apparent sign that the Lee administration wants closer coordination with its neighbor.
Although Ryu is a heavyweight in South Korea's political landscape who reportedly "reads the President's mind better than anyone else," but when it comes to China, observers say, he is a stranger.
President Lee's ambition to match Obama's lead by appointing a longtime associate as his new top China envoy may result in a challenging situation. This is particularly so because Obama's point man on China is reportedly doing a superb job and the new South Korean appointee will likely become a subject for comparison in the diplomatic community regarding his performance.
"The U.S. ambassador we have now in China is one of the best. I think Obama made a good choice," said Sidney Rittenberg.
Rittenberg knows what he is talking about. The 88-year-old American first went to China in 1944, worked as an interpreter for Mao Zedong, and befriended the premier Zhou Enlai. He lived there for 30 years, participating in the Cultural Revolution before becoming an advisor for such U.S. luminaries as the former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger. He is regarded as "living history" of modern China-U.S. relations.
The current U.S. ambassador to China is Jon Huntsman, who speaks fluent Chinese, understands the Chinese culture, as he has lived in Taiwan, and has an adopted Chinese daughter.
"I had a long talk with the ambassador a few weeks ago. I was really impressed with his understanding of China," Rittenberg said.
Although prior knowledge of ― or living experience in ― a country is not a requirement for diplomatic appointment, today countries are increasingly naming experienced diplomats with a deep understanding of China as their ambassadors.
For example, the U.K. also has a veteran as its China ambassador, Sir William Ehrman KCMG, who worked in China extensively during the 1970s, '80s and '90s. The Japanese ambassador to China, Yuji Miyamoto, previously worked in China as first secretary at its embassy for two years in the early 1980s, and dealt with Chinese affairs for many years while working for the China division of the foreign ministry.
All this shows the growing importance of China. But it also denotes that countries want to minimize mistakes and prevent communication misunderstandings by sending their best and brightest minds that have experience with China.
Rittenberg stresses a foreign ambassador to China needs to be "someone who has a very good understanding of Chinese people.
"Chinese people think differently, they have different emotions. And you have to be able to understand Chinese people so that you can see beyond these differences and ultimately why they are really exactly like us," he said.
Secondly, Rittenberg said, the person needs to be somebody who is "strong in principle, but flexible in tactics.
"In dealing with China, you must always show respect when you disagree. If you don't, people will not listen to you," he said, adding the 'principled yet flexible' attitude also applies when doing business with the country.
Thirdly, the new ambassador has to have a vision and should be someone who can rethink some of the "diplomatic wisdom" that is recognized in some pockets of the world. For Rittenberg the whole things is intuitive. He gave the example of the so-called "China threat" theory:"I don't think China will become a military threat. But if we treat China like a threat, it could become one," he said. "In psychology, it's called a'self-fulfilling prophecy.' If you treat China like a potential enemy, then it's possible you might make it into one.
He continued"But if you treat China as a 'friendly power' and know you have differences, work on the differences and learn to understand each other, then gradually, you can deal with things that you disagreed on before."