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Letters: Deny Hu a South Lawn visit

While analysts are debating the impact on US-China relations of US President George W. Bush's recent fruitless trip to China ("US, China take a step sideways," Nov. 22, page 4), it is clear that the comprehensive engagement policy, billed as the best means for bringing about greater freedoms in China, has failed to produce the desired results.

Three years after Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) took power, China's rights conditions have worsened.

It has now dispensed altogether with symbolic releases of political dissidents timed to coincide with US dignitaries' visits.

For a US president championing a staunch freedom-expansion policy, Hu's China emerges as a determined counter-model.

Through engagement, the US gave China what it wanted to achieve its status as a major power (e.g. access to US markets and technology), but the US failed to convert China's dependence into effective leverage for changing China's behavior.

Since Hu clamors for the pomp of a South Lawn reception, the US should say that it is not interested in receiving a meaningless ceremonial visit next February unless US requests are adhered to. That will get China's attention.

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