Clinton will have to work hard on his own symbolism if he doesn't want to look sandbagged. Much has been made about how he will handle the politically touchy arrival ceremony in Tiananmen Square, but he will need to appear just as surefooted in his talks with China's leaders inside the Great Hall of the People. Little serious business is planned, but the political noise from Washington will sharply limit his ability to show flexibility on many items on the agenda. And it will put pressure on him to say something bold and daring on the hot-button cause of human rights. He's slick enough so that he may be able to please the home folks without angering the Chinese, but it won't be easy, not even for Bill.
China is neither our enemy nor our ally.
There are plenty of things to hate about its behavior, but there is good reason to push it to do better. Its government is not relentlessly inimical to us. Beijing has been constructive in managing the India-Pakistan nuclear arms race and has contributed to global economic stability during Asia's financial crisis. It is not naive but self-interested for the U.S. to use all its clout to make tomorrow's China less of a worry than today's.