Obama better be his own lead on China

INTERNATIONAL: "Treasury's Lead Role in China in Flux," by Mark Landler, New York Times, 2 December 2008.

Once Paulson goes, the sense is that Geithner won't have the gravitas to play USG lead to Beijing. If not Geithner, then who? Maybe Summers as NEC chief. Maybe Clinton. Not Gates, as that historical moment has finally passed for SECDEF--thank God.

My sense? Obama himself better appear in control of our all-important relationship with China.

For years now I've been predicting that this is the most important bilateral relationship we'll have in the 21st century. Now, thanks to the crisis, a boatload of smart money-types are jumping on that bandwagon.