The Battle for U.S.-China Policy

The organizational charts and Constitutional pecking order make policymaking look like such an orderly, refined process. The truth, of course, is much messier... even inside the presidential cabinet room. Case in point: Who runs U.S. policy regarding China?

On one level, U.S.-China relations are far too big to be run by one person or one agency. But a battle is brewing in Washington, DC over who takes the lead on big, top level, strategic decisions on the relationship.

In one corner is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Now it should seem natural that the nation's top diplomat be in charge of U.S. relations with a giant like China. But not so fast.

During the Bush Administration, China policy was basically run from the Treasury Department under the direction of Henry Paulson. And the new Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, might want to keep it that way. Secretary Clinton has let it be known that U.S. relations with China should involve a broader agenda than economics.

Secretary Clinton earned high marks for her Asia visit last week. But the bigger policy battle may still be unfolding back at home in Washington, DC.

More:

• U.S. Treasury's lead role on China in doubt, from the International Herald Tribune
• Earth to the New York Times: Clinton's China policy isn't new, from Foreign Policy
• A U.S. Asia strategy for Hillary Clinton's trip, from Foreign Policy
• Clinton's agenda, beyond the money thing, from GlobalPost