HONG KONG -- As Americans went to the polls, a section of the Chinese communist leadership clearly and unmistakably indicated its extreme distaste for the present, and likely future, policies of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.
The surprising signal came just as Chinese academics were welcoming the fact that China had not become an issue during this U.S. presidential election. Ironically, though, in place of "China-bashing" by American politicians, the Chinese political elite did some "U.S.-bashing."
China-watchers are still seeking a convincing explanation for the discordant diplomacy. Was the Beijing leadership, or some faction within it, making a very late, and certainly ill-timed, bet on Sen. John Kerry becoming president of the United States? Or was there a more devious political motivation at work?