McCain Meets With Sarkozy in France, Warns That China is Harming World Image
PARIS — Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain said Friday that China is harming its world image with its crackdown in Tibet and expressed hope Beijing would seek a peaceful solution to the crisis.
McCain did not discuss the issue during a 45-minute meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but told reporters later the subject was “one of the first things I would talk about if I were president of the United States today.”
China’s crackdown “is not correct,” McCain said in the courtyard of the French presidential Elysee Palace.
“The people there are being subjected to mistreatment that is not acceptable with the conduct of a world power, which China is,” McCain said in response to a question by a Chinese television journalist.
“There must be respect for human rights, and I would hope that the Chinese are actively seeking a peaceful resolution to this situation that exists which harms not only the human rights of the people there but also the image of China in the world.”
The White House has urged Beijing to respect Tibetan culture and multi-ethnicity in its society.
McCain was in Paris for a matter of hours at the end of a weeklong tour of the Middle East and Europe. He was traveling as part of a U.S. congressional delegation — including Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. — that visited Iraq, Jordan, Israel and London.
The delegation discussed a range of issues with Sarkozy, from climate warming and nuclear energy to the Middle East crisis, Iraq and Afghanistan, where France has troops.
McCain praised the state of U.S. relations with France, crediting Sarkozy, who was elected in May, with the high level of ties after years of tension that followed Paris’ lead role in opposing the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq five years ago.
“I think our relations with France will improve no matter who is the president of the United States,” he said, “because this president (Sarkozy) is committed to greater cooperation and values our friendship.”
A reporter asked if McCain’s trip abroad was not a “taxpayer rip-off,” used for personal politicking, forcing the Arizona senator to defend the trip. He said he was proud.
Travels to Iraq or Israel and meetings in Europe concern issues that “lay clearly under the jurisdiction of the Senate Armed Services Committee,” McCain said.
“Very frankly, I wish every senator … would take the same trip that we have taken. They would be better informed and they would be better able to make decisions as to how we can defend the national interests of the United States of America in these times of great challenge,” he said.
The McCain campaign said Thursday it would reimburse the federal government about $3,000 for political travel expenses incurred during the trip.
On Thursday, McCain attended a $1,000-per-person fundraising lunch at London’s Spencer House.
Under terms reviewed by the Federal Election Commission and the Senate ethics committee, McCain will reimburse the federal government $3,000 for a one-night stay at a London hotel and first-class airfare from Washington to London because of the political nature of the event there. McCain had already agreed to pay more than $2,000 for the flight home.
McCain expressed special thanks to Sarkozy and the “the brave citizens of this country” for their troop contribution to Afghanistan where France has some 1,500 soldiers as part of the NATO mission there and another 400 in the U.S.-led operation battling the Taliban and al-Qaida.
McCain reiterated his commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying “we must make progress, we can make progress” and adding that he believes any participation of France and other countries can contribute to peace. The role of France in pressing Iran over its disputed nuclear program has been important, he said.
France pressed for the recent third round of sanctions passed by the U.N. Security Council on Iran for failing to end its disputed nuclear program and assuage fears uranium enrichment may be used to develop nuclear weapons — which Iran denies.
A nuclear armed Iran “is a threat to the entire region and peace in the world,” McCain said.
Sarkozy is expected to announce next month a new force commitment to Afghanistan.
Senator Mccain says the china crackdown is “not correct” and “harming its image in the world”. Its funny how he is worrying about another country’s image in the world, but refusing to admit that the IRAQ WAR is hurting U.S. image in the world. If John Mccain is elected president, i wreckon we wont even be able to recognize america in 5 to 10 years. His support for an immoral and resource draining war in iraq will contine our downward economic spiral. He supports bushes tax cuts for the wealthiest amongst us, while ordinary americans have less spendind power than they had 8 years ago. He calls china a “world power”, but cant see that his support for the Bush administrations policies is weakening OUR POWER!
obama 08!
Shane you “WRECKON” and “bushes” should be reckon and Bush’s respectively. You don’t how to spell the Senator’s name and you don’t know enough to capitalize the name of countries. In the same way you have not a clue the use of tax money. Get educated and perhaps your educated mind will be able to understand more clearly what you are espousing
A more news worthy story to talk about would be that CONDOLEEZZA RICE IS SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO BE JOHN McCains VP. It’s true……
Many of you armchair politicians just blab about things you don’t and never will understand. McCain is doing what is necessary for International Relations. He is the only Politician we currently have in this race that has what it takes to run this Country. And please keep in mind that “one” person didn’t start this war in Iraq. Many variables came into play and it is what it is.
China has it’s own set of problems and the best we can do is to monitor what they do! All BIG Countries play their hand from time to time to see what happens next! After all, we played ours and took this fine Country from the Indians, killed most of them and forced them onto reservations. Ask them what they think about who thought they owned everything!!
America can hold her Head up in the World!
Senators Obama and Clinton are in the muck and mire of a vicious campaign. Senator McCain is in France talking to President Sarkozy. Who of the three is more presidential?
McCain is a practical man. It is good to have a candidate that speaks of practical matters and acts in practical ways. Ideology from both the left and right are not what is needed at this time. We need a man (or woman) with good common sense to be at the head of a country facing enormous threats from within and from beyond our borders. We all would be able to calm down and get to work on becoming a more self-reliant people. More government intervention is not what we need. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!” That is a practical solution.
Obama 08 = Better Everthing
Shane…What makes you think there will be an America in 5 to 10 years?
We are one step away from total disaster and do not even have a handle on that step!
If Saud (OPEC) decides not to accept US dollars for oil payment, it is OVER!
This is why Chenney went to the ME. Everything else we hear on the news is a smoke screen.
Did you notice the intervention in the US dollar last week? How is it that the dollar went up while the fund rate went down?
Hey Chris…Shane is educated. He is a graduate of Berkeley don’t you know.
I’m glad to see a few people starting to realize that we are indeed a nation in trouble. I hope we can hold on for 10 more years. We are not being destroyed from the outside either, which is really something to be frightened of. It’s coming from the top; from Washington and the money elite who really control our country. And guess what, the media is no longer protecting us and watching out for us like they used to. Do you folks understand that 90% of this country’s media is owned by 6, count them six, yes i mean SIX corporations such as GE, Time Warner etc. And they are in bed with the JP morgans, Rockefellers, and Rothschilds.
The understanding of our problems are finally gaining more public acceptance, and more and more people are getting on the bandwagon everday. They understand we need to start taking our democracy back, finding people to elect who will honor the constitution and the will of the people, rich, poor, middle class, white, black, yellow, brown. You know, A government “By the people and for the people”. If you think MCcain, Obama, or Clinton are going to lead us there, I’m afraid you are sorely mistaken. Please don’t say I’m a left wing, conspiracy theory wacko. That’s just what they have trained you to say. I’ve been a tax paying, hard working, successfull Republican most of my 53 years and want to proud of my country like I used to be.
Please America, wake up. Stop getting your news from the corporate controlled media, the MSM.
Read some Candian or European newspapers, watch LINK TV and Democracy Now, PBS news, even Lou Dobbs on CNN and start getting more than the one viewpoint that is being forced down your throat.
Get involved or it’s going to be too late!
Hey Fox, I guess comment moderation really means free speach supression to you, eh?
Thank you
Go ahead talk up a storm. Say whats bad about America. America is still the best place to live.
Did you ever see the world as one big powder keg, ready to go off ? With hot spot, fault lines, flare ups. At any given moment this world is on the brink of disaster. Take a bigger look.
You guys need to spend some time with a family in Mexico, or Somalia, or Columbia; living on what they can gather to eat. They sleep on dirt floors and swat mosquitoes all night. Ther are no jobs and no money to pay if there were jobs.
You think America has problems? Wake up!!
Everything you have vomited above is BS compared to what the other 95% of the world has to deal with as their “normal” day. America has problems, but they are high class problems; Oh gosh you drive a gas guzzler, you make too much money, you’re not fair, blah blah blah”.
Stop your incessant whining and start to treat each other with respect. Start looking for reasons why we are alike rather than our petty differences. Work hard, and get paid. Take responsibility for yourself and your family, and your actions. Humble yourself and be content for what you have. Grow up!