Jim Patterson and President Obama on China

December 22, 2014

Dear James: Thank you for writing.  I have heard from many Americans about United States-China relations, and I appreciate your perspective. I believe there is much to be gained from a closer working relationship with China.  Indeed there are very few global challenges, if any, we can address effectively without China’s active cooperation.  They are a global economic power, and engagement with China’s government is an important step in stemming the financial crisis that has devastated economies around the world.  Both of our nations seek to lay a foundation for sustainable growth and lasting prosperity.   My Administration is also working with China on a number of security issues, including stopping North Korea’s nuclear program, rolling back the advance of extremists in Pakistan, and ending the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.  The United States and China share common interests on a host of issues—including energy security and climate change, food safety and public health, and nuclear non-proliferation and counter-terrorism.  We want to work with them to address these issues in the years ahead. Improved relations with China will require candor and open discussion about those issues on which we may disagree.  We must address human rights, democracy, and free speech.  We must also work to ensure that our nations play by the rules in open and transparent economic competition.  These important matters will be essential elements of our ongoing dialogue with China.  Thank you, again, for writing.  For more information on my foreign policy agenda, I encourage you to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Foreign-Policy. Sincerely, Barack Obama

What's wrong with the President's letter? 

Third paragraph: "stopping North Korea's  nuclear and cyber programs"

No mention whatsoever of China's cyber attacks on US government and private sectors. Obama just does not know how to effectively bring this issue to the Chinese. 

President Obama does not understand China's cyber capabilities and attacks are a national security threat. Corporate executives tell me they  are spending millions to defend against cyber attacks (Iran, North Korea, China, Vietnam, Russia and others). These attacks are hourly and daily. They are non-stop. All corporations including communications, finance, retail, utilities, and transportation. I talked with a man in Tennessee who said the town's farmers market was hit by cyber attack, 

The US is so vulnerable and no one is doing anything policy-wise or diplomatically to bring this under control. This is a serious problem and Obama is vacationing and trying to solve racial issues. It's not that he doesn't need a rest  and it's not that the US doesn't have race problems, but in my view they pale in comparison to the never ending cyber war against the US.

This North Korean cyber attack on Sony over a movie mocking leader Kim was serious. Sony backed down but they are now releasing the damn movie. 

President Obama compared this cyber attack as cyber vandalism. This reminds me when Senator John F. Kerry was running against President George W. Bush and the Massachusetts Senator called 9/11 "a nuisance" in the New York Times Sunday Magazine.

I'll try again to get a letter from Obama explaining our national cyber policy and how corporations are being secured against attack in such ways that prices don't increase and dividends aren't affected. Wish me luck! 

Jim Patterson, Diplomat