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Former Governor Jon Huntsman on the U.S.'s bilateral relationship with China and the 2012 elections.
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It goes now joining us to talk about China and also about the political situation here in the United States former ambassador to China GOP presidential candidate John Huntsman is an RTC bureau governor Huntsman.
Thank you very much for joining us and McDonald -- to be with -- I wanna start with China and you've been critical at times of both President Obama the U.
-- worked for and governor Romney he ran against the Republican primary terms -- Chinese.
Up policy it's probably our most important bilateral.
Relationship period specially economically what what are they getting wrong both of them on China.
Well first of all you have to understand that would China it's a long term play it's impossible to settle up this relationship it in a short span of time.
So it requires an investment on the part of our policy makers which is always a hard thing to do in the western political systems.
So in China -- sedan at the negotiating table there arguably.
The best long term strategic thinkers in the world we are among the best short term tactical thinkers in the world.
It is how you reconcile those differences and that's it usually defies.
Short term.
Political tactic right to really put together a set of policies that are good for the US try to -- -- -- everything in China as a five step plan or even longer.
Than that and a in the United States you're right we -- knee jerk quick reaction to what's Romney -- the focus on Romney right what his policy has been.
And -- is the Donald Trump China policy but -- take get tough on the Chinese what's wrong with that.
Well I think for political purposes that's probably right I mean anyone during a primary season is gonna -- -- say things that will get.
The right kind of crowd reaction.
Or political response and then.
You know -- sure and officers a different reality that sets in as president Ronald Reagan found in 1980.
I took my first trip to China with him in the early 1980s when I work -- right or Bill Clinton found in 1992.
So you have to re calibrate a little bit once -- become president I don't think that's completely abnormal.
But you just have to remember all the while that this is the most important bilateral relationship we've got anywhere in the world -- There's an important economic dimension and a very important security dimension -- you've got to.
Insure that in the back of your mind.
During a campaign at this kind that you're gonna be prepared to give -- the long term strategic thought that will be required for real success.
And I do have one question about the campaign in the second -- -- one more thing on China and that is.
I think supporting our viewers hero wondering -- is Chinese economy gonna fall apart we hear all the soft hard landing stuff where you on that you think China's.
Collapsing at a slowing down -- one.
Well yeah it's it's going to be somewhere in the middle they drop erased 25 basis points last week they're racer historically high so there's a lot of maneuvering room for the Central Bank.
They've been able to tame inflation wish to my mind was the most important part of the short term economic performance scenario.
And chances are as a move into the eighteenth party congress in October they're not want they're not gonna let their numbers get out of hand so there becomes an embarrassment -- -- and it.
Landing right whether its through stimulus is something else again to ensure that -- at seven maybe 8% by the end of the year.
RD US political question is this a -- -- especially after you dropped out of the race but all throughout we did a number of stories about.
The potential to third party candidate or this American select movement gaining momentum and it never -- nobody ever emerged are you surprised by that and why did you.
Step in there.
Well I didn't step in there because.
I'm a Republican and I have been.
From eighteen years of age on.
Do I believe that there are areas that we can reform and where we can focus on solutions is supposed to rhetoric -- finger pointing absolutely.
But right now today our political system.
Has too many barriers to stand in the way of all -- alternative voices or third parties being able to really be viable.
But most importantly need two things you need idea is -- -- -- any people.
And there may be some ideas out there but you don't have leadership you don't have people actually gathering those ideas -- and running forward and that's exactly why.
No alternative -- -- gain traction the story yet never nobody ever really emerged last thing.
And we're gonna go here after this but we have Ed Rendell on on on.
A Friday -- that not -- -- is comparable -- it has been critical as the party of the times is he couldn't make a prediction of who's gonna win in November can you are you comfortable.
The saying who's gonna win is that it's it's gonna be Romney.
All I think I think the Republicans are gonna prevail and I think Romney is gonna prevail because it's going to be about the economy elderly the very end and the third quarter numbers on unemployment and on GDP growth are going to be extremely important.
Now it's up to -- governor Romney to seize the narrative -- -- make sure that he's got some good ideas that are.
Couched end and framed in -- -- that the American people can actually get behind them as doable public policy solutions to debt.
And two -- growth going forward aren't so we'll be Romney according to governor Huntsman not -- to come back from time to time talk China and other things but thanks for coming on with the -- -- it thank you.
