A Moment of Near-Comity in U.S.-China Televised ‘Debate’

May 30 (EIRNS)—It was advertised as a debate yesterday between Fox News firebrand Trish Regan and CGTN’s anchor Liu Xin, who hosts her own TV news journal “The Point.” The two had had a public disagreement when Liu Xin used her program to correct some of the outrageous figures that Trish Regan had been bandying about on the U.S. trade deficit with China.

As it developed, Regan invited Liu Xin to be on her show to debate the issue of the trade dispute. There was much excitement about this, as it would give Liu Xin an unprecedented possibility to give the Chinese point of view on the conflict. It began roughly, with Regan saying that she was debating with columnist Liu Xin, who represented the views of the Communist Party of China. Liu Xin corrected her saying that she was not even a member of the Communist Party, but simply a journalist working for China Global Television Network and the views she expressed represented only her own opinions.

While Regan remained obnoxious in some of her comments, there was obviously a lack of animosity between the two. Liu Xin was able to explain something about China’s “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” explaining that 80% of China’s GDP was created by private industry and not by state-owned companies. Regan also mellowed a bit, allowing Liu Xin to have her say without interrupting. Liu also described that China was pursuing a policy of further opening up to foreign enterprises.

On the accusations of “technology theft,” Liu admitted that it may have occurred as it does in many countries, but that the government was cracking down on it. She also pointed out that that U.S. and other foreign firms in China were doing well, and would not continue to stay there if they felt their technology was in danger. At the end, the two actually found themselves in agreement, and that they both felt that the trade war should be resolved. Regan thanked Liu Xin for coming on the show (via a video conference from Beijing) and Liu Xin expressed the hope that they could have more of these discussions. The “debate” was greeted by many in China, frustrated over the obstacles they have to overcome in order to bring their case before the U.S. public.