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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| China's reaction to Obama's election victory | China's reaction to Obama's election victory |
| (4 months later) | |
| For one Chinese citizen, following the US polls had a certain voyeuristic thrill. "For us, the US presidential election is the same as watching an [adult] movie," he wrote on the popular Sina Weibo microblog service: "we cannot participate, but we are willing to stare at it." | For one Chinese citizen, following the US polls had a certain voyeuristic thrill. "For us, the US presidential election is the same as watching an [adult] movie," he wrote on the popular Sina Weibo microblog service: "we cannot participate, but we are willing to stare at it." |
| Like many in China, he seemed struck by the contrast with his country's own leadership transition, a process that formally begins with the opening of the 18th party congress on Thursday. | Like many in China, he seemed struck by the contrast with his country's own leadership transition, a process that formally begins with the opening of the 18th party congress on Thursday. |
| On the one hand, the handover is deeply mysterious, with the new elite selected behind the scenes by current leaders and party elders. On the other, it is inevitable: Xi Jinping has long been heir apparent to Hu Jintao. | On the one hand, the handover is deeply mysterious, with the new elite selected behind the scenes by current leaders and party elders. On the other, it is inevitable: Xi Jinping has long been heir apparent to Hu Jintao. |
| "The future Chinese leaders are confirmed, so we can only concern ourselves with the American election," wrote another user. | "The future Chinese leaders are confirmed, so we can only concern ourselves with the American election," wrote another user. |
| That fact may explain the flurry of online reaction, with around 25m posts on the topic on Sina Weibo. A commentary published shortly before polls closed by the English edition of populist state-run newspaper the Global Times sought to pre-empt unflattering comparisons, arguing: "There's no perfect political system. However, China's current system is widely considered to be an effective one. The efficiency of this system is both outstanding and rare." | That fact may explain the flurry of online reaction, with around 25m posts on the topic on Sina Weibo. A commentary published shortly before polls closed by the English edition of populist state-run newspaper the Global Times sought to pre-empt unflattering comparisons, arguing: "There's no perfect political system. However, China's current system is widely considered to be an effective one. The efficiency of this system is both outstanding and rare." |
| It added: "The election has just been about getting votes, and this is gradually becoming a popular political rule throughout the world. Politicians should try their best to please the voters and make various promises … | It added: "The election has just been about getting votes, and this is gradually becoming a popular political rule throughout the world. Politicians should try their best to please the voters and make various promises … |
| "The electoral system encourages populism. Parties and politicians are slowly turned into its captives … The outcome of carrying civil rights to their extreme is to maximize everyone's benefits." | "The electoral system encourages populism. Parties and politicians are slowly turned into its captives … The outcome of carrying civil rights to their extreme is to maximize everyone's benefits." |
| China's foreign ministry said President Hu had congratulated Barack Obama on his re-election, and noted the "positive progress" in bilateral relations over the past four years. | China's foreign ministry said President Hu had congratulated Barack Obama on his re-election, and noted the "positive progress" in bilateral relations over the past four years. |
| Spokesman Hong Lei said the premier, Wen Jiabao, had also sent congratulations, while state media reported that Xi Jinping, poised to take over as China's leader, had rung Joe Biden. | Spokesman Hong Lei said the premier, Wen Jiabao, had also sent congratulations, while state media reported that Xi Jinping, poised to take over as China's leader, had rung Joe Biden. |
| But a commentary from the state news agency, Xinhua, said mutual trust had been "whittled down" in Obama's first term, although there was now a new opportunity to improve ties. | But a commentary from the state news agency, Xinhua, said mutual trust had been "whittled down" in Obama's first term, although there was now a new opportunity to improve ties. |
| "As the two countries have been ever more economically interwoven, a new US government perhaps should start to learn how to build a more rational and constructive relationship with China," it added. | "As the two countries have been ever more economically interwoven, a new US government perhaps should start to learn how to build a more rational and constructive relationship with China," it added. |
| While both candidates criticised China in debates, Mitt Romney was notably more aggressive. A commentary from state news agency Xinhua – published before polls closed – said it hoped the results would bring "a pause in the China-bashing game". | While both candidates criticised China in debates, Mitt Romney was notably more aggressive. A commentary from state news agency Xinhua – published before polls closed – said it hoped the results would bring "a pause in the China-bashing game". |
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