Speaking to students at the beginning of his visit to China, US President Barack Obama made a plea on Monday for human rights and spoke out against Internet censorship. With his visit to China Obama hopes to establish closer relations between Washington and Beijing. European media point to a strengthening of the Pacific Rim countries.

La Vanguardia – Spain

At the start of his visit to Asia US President Barack Obama declared himself the first Pacific president. With this gesture he made it clear that the balance in world politics is shifting to Asia, writes Lluís Foix in the liberal daily La Vanguardia:

“Barack Obama sent a clear message when he began his trip to Asia by calling himself the first American president from the Pacific.

… Normally after the Second World War presidents always called themselves Atlanticists and concluded military, economic and political alliances with Europe in order to curb Soviet expansionism. The Atlantic axis continues to exist, but economic power and the world’s population are gradually shiting, and Obama has taken advantage of the first opportunity to state that the Pacific is displacing the Atlantic.” (17/11/2009)

La Tribune – France

The visit of US-president Barack Obama clearly demonstrates how powerful China has become and how terrifying it remains, writes the business paper La Tribune:

“Following the first steps of the American president in China, it’s tempting to portray his visit as a homage by yesterday’s power to tomorrow’s. If a crisis always separates the old from the new, to borrow Gramsci’s apt phrase, our current crisis has devalued America’s power and created a world where China plays the preponderant role. Obama’s trip marks a humiliating step: now nothing is possible without Beijing’s consent. … True to its name, the ‘middle kingdom’ has established itself at the heart of global economic and strategic issues.

… Nevertheless it lacks the essential attribute needed to enjoy undivided rule: this pragmatic dictatorship doesn’t inspire dreams. On the contrary, its values are the source of nightmares.” (17/11/2009)

Irish Examiner – Ireland

Speaking to an audience of Chinese students in China US President Obama called for the guarantee of human rights. These are the basis for good bilateral relations, The Irish Examiner believes.

“He focused on one of the great divides separating communist China and the West – human rights.That is why these engagements are so important. Co-operation will build confidence and confidence will encourage growth bringing the kind of social stability that will encourage openness … and challenge the insularity that tolerates human rights abuses in China. If the talks are as fruitful as they might be the links between the world’s two superpowers will have been strengthened and that must be good for us all.” (17/11/2009)

Dziennik Gazeta Prawna – Poland

With his visit to China US President Barack Obama has shown that he has begun to engage in Realpolitik, the daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna believes:

“On Monday there was a dinner with the Chinese leader Hu Jintao during which assurances were given of the [United States'] strategic relations with Beijing. Barack Obama’s visit to Asia is the latest evidence that the president of the USA has been transformed from an idealistic politician who is highly skilled at selling himself through the media and who dreams of world peace and harmony into one who has begun to learn the hard lessons of political realism. Obama is aware that the United States, weakened by the crisis and two wars [in Iraq and Afghanistan], must also deal with those who have not read [Alexis de Tocqueville's] ‘Democracy in America’.” (17/11/2009)