Editorial: Qian gets cool reception in US

The AEGIS sale is by no means a zero-sum game between Taiwan and China because the US arms sales involve many other complex factors. However, Qian is likely to come under criticism back home if he is seen to have failed in his mission -- just as Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基) did after his US visit. This could be the deciding factor to whether Qian remains the "godfather of diplomacy" after the Chinese Communist Party's 16th Central Committee meeting next year.