By Xie Tao

October 8, 2015

"By now it has become a fairly predictable pattern.

A week or so before a state visit to the United States by the Chinese top leader, an intense media campaign will be launched to portray U.S.-China relations in the most positive light. This media blitz is called zao shi in Chinese, which can be roughly translated into English as 'creating a favorable atmosphere.' Many Chinese officials (especially from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), scholars, and pundits are enlisted in the campaign. Some U.S. scholars and pundits, as well as a handful of former officials, also come out and speak in glowing terms about the bilateral relationship.

Meanwhile, as a critical component of creating a favorable atmosphere, Beijing will place a massive order of American products - usually Boeing aircrafts worth dozens of billions of dollars — before or during such a visit. Such a shopping spree is intended as a gesture of good will. For in the Confucian tradition, a guest is supposed to bring a gift to the host to show his or her appreciation of the host's hospitality."

Read more:
http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/how-to-manufacture-a-honeymoon-in-us-china-relations/

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