--- Die vertraulichen Beziehungen zwischen China und den USA sind besser als je zuvor, behauptet der Economist im Hinblick auf die anstehende Reise von Chinas Premier Wen Jiabao nach Washington. Die Streitigkeiten über Wechselkurse und wachsende Handelsdefizite seien zwar groß. Beide Länder hätten aber auch gemeinsame politische Ziele: In fighting Islamic terrorism, America has found China co-operative. China's leaders, after all, have their own Muslim problem: restive Uighurs in the western province of Xinjiang. America's once-loud criticism of China's harsh treatment of such “splittists” and other minorities, notably Tibetans, is now barely audible. Then there is North Korea and its nuclear-weapons programme. China's attempts since last spring to use what economic and diplomatic leverage it has left with its old and infuriating Communist ally has earned Hu Jintao, the president, and Mr Wen the respect of the Bush administration, which wants to “internationalise” the issue.