The U.S. Cannot Confront China on Every Move it Disagrees With

Republicans criticizing Obama for not being tougher on China's human-rights abuses are delusional about today's global power dynamic.

Published May 5 2012 9:48AM EDT

articles/2012/05/05/the-u-s-cannot-confront-china-on-every-move-it-disagrees-with/karabell-china-confrontation-trap-topbox_ftnjyy — Handout / US Embassy Beijing Press Office / AP Photo

The saga of Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has become the latest source of tension between China and the United States. And the way that story has entered domestic American politics sheds disturbing light on how in denial the United States remains about the state of the world in the early...

Zachary Karabell

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The U.S. Cannot Confront China on Every Move it Disagrees With

Republicans criticizing Obama for not being tougher on China's human-rights abuses are delusional about today's global power dynamic.

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Zachary Karabell