Using some of his toughest language yet against China, Obama, a day after face-to-face talks with President Hu Jintao, demanded that China stop "gaming" the international system and create a level playing field for U.S. and other foreign businesses.
"We're going to continue to be firm that China operate by the same rules as everyone else," Obama told reporters after hosting the 21-nation APEC summit in his native Honolulu. "We don't want them taking advantage of the United States."
China shot back that it refused to abide by international economic rules that it had no part in writing.
"First we have to know whose rules we are talking about," Pang Sen, a deputy director-general at China's Foreign Ministry said.
That's the funny thing about China. They only abide by the rules that benefit them. Sounds familiar...
- Meanwhile, China's flexing those new-found military and foreign policy muscles by grabbing bigger chunks of the Spratly Islands. Now, what's so special about a 190-island chain smack in the middle of the South China Sea?
Oil. And lots of it.
Now the Philippines are speaking out against China's attempt to claim territory that's just 50 miles from the nearest Philippine province. Understandably, the rest of South Asia is wary of China developing a territorial and military hegemony over the entire region.
- American Eagle becomes the first airline dinged by a tarmac-delay rule that penalizes airlines for lengthy delays. The rule was enacted in 2010 as a part of a series of consumer protection rules. Airlines are now fined up to $27,500 per passenger if those passengers are stranded on the tarmac for more than three hours.
American Eagle was dinged to a tune of a cool $16.7 million dollars. Parent AMR Corp. later settled for $650,000 and passenger compensation totaling $250,000.
The airline industry has opposed the tarmac-delay rule, saying it has had the unintended result of increasing the number of cancellations.
And increased ticket prices and fees, don't forget about those.
- The six Democrats and six Republicans on the "Super Committee" are busy working out a deal to resolve the national budget. If the committee fails to push $1.2 trillion in spending cuts or tax increases by November 23, automatic across-the-board budget cuts come into play for 2013.
- Did anyone hear how Allen West was in a white supremacist gang? No? Neither did I. Shades of Clayton Bigsby? Well, I guess even white supremacist groups need a token or two. And speaking of tokens... (HT RippDemUp)
- C-Span won't be showing the next GOP debate. "Budgetary concerns," they say. I think it's how they've finally had their fill of GOP shenanigans and inane debate for once. Oh, Romney and Huntsman won't be there, either. I assume they'll have a little one-on-one chat over coffee at the local Denny's. Oh, who am I kidding? Poor Jon will be there by his lonesome, largely forgotten in the face of Herm, Michelle, Rick, the other Rick and Newt.
Thanksgiving's coming up soon, and I plan to have a wonderful feast. *drools at the thought of good stuffing with cranberry sauce*
