After two decades of mutual hostility and isolation, Nixon and Kissinger thought it was important to demonstrate to the Chinese in concrete terms, like these briefings, that we had shared interests. I guess the closest answer would be about as I expected. Let me explain. As China has opened up to the world it has moderated some of the worst excesses that we saw in the television program tonight, such as the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward. That's the good news, but there remains a great deal of bad news.
China continues to crack down on peaceful protests and demonstrations on political change.
In recent months it violated its own constitution and human rights obligations by trying moderate dissidents without letting them have lawyers and giving them very long prison sentences merely for trying to register a political party or provide addresses for the Internet. It continues to abuse Tibet and reject the Dalai Lama's reasonable overtures. They are also cracking down on religious freedom and trying to control the Internet. That's why I have chosen the middle answer to the three you suggest. But only when there is a change in the communist leadership.