US President Barack Obama will nominate US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, the son and grandson of Chinese immigrants, to be the next US ambassador to China, a senior administration official said on Monday. A formal announcement was expected as early as yesterday.
If confirmed by the Senate, Locke would succeed Jon Huntsman, one of the few Republicans in Obama’s administration. Huntsman’s recently tendered resignation is effective at the end of next month, and he is being eyed as a potential Republican challenger to Obama in next year’s presidential contest.
The Obama administration official requested anonymity to speak ahead of the formal announcement.
Photo: Reuters
Locke, 61, is the first Chinese American to serve as commerce secretary. His father and grandfather were born in China.
In an interview on Monday, hours before word of his nomination began to spread, Locke touted the economic relationship he has helped build between the US and China. He said US exports to China had increased 34 percent last year.
Obama sees boosting US exports as a way to save and create jobs as the economy continues its slow walk out of its worst slump in a generation. He has set a goal of doubling the amount of US goods that are sold to other countries within five years — an effort in which Locke has been a key cheerleader.
Locke said China is becoming more accessible to US companies, though he said that progress has been slow in coming.
“We in government and the business community want more and faster progress,” he said. “There’s still a long way to go.”
The US trade deficit with China reached US$273.1 billion last year, the largest imbalance the US has ever recorded with any country.
Locke said that in areas such as intellectual property rights, the US needs to “keep the Chinese accountable” and “constantly monitor them, and let them know that we’re not just going to accept their assurances.”
As the son of a Chinese immigrant, he is held in high esteem in China.
Before joining the administration, Locke worked on China issues for a Seattle-based law firm. He joined the firm after declining to seek a third term as Washington state governor; Locke became the US’ first Chinese-American state chief executive when he was elected governor in 1996.
White House aides have been less than thrilled by Huntsman’s overt interest in exploring a presidential bid next year — and possibly becoming the Republican who tries to deny a second term to Obama, who soon will be his former boss.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College