Barack Obama has talked about 'respect' on his Asian tour, but risks getting into a muddle over its meaning
Brian Whitaker
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 18 November 2009
"After respectfully bowing to the emperor of Japan last week, President Obama travelled on to China where both countries agreed that "the fundamental principle of respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity" was at the core of China-US relations.
Obama is big on respect. Speaking to the Muslim world in his inaugural address, he promised to "seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect", and in his Cairo speech last June the president used the word "respect" no fewer than 10 times.....
Similar arguments arise in many situations. Out of "respect" for its "culture and traditions", Saudi Arabia asks us to accept its treatment of women. Demanding respect for its national sovereignty, Egypt objects to EU criticisms of its human rights record and rejects international observers for its elections. Most recently, it succeeded in watering down plans for inspections under the international Convention Against Corruption – again citing a need to respect its sovereignty.
The danger is that the more Obama talks about "mutual respect" the more others will hurl the phrase back at him in defence of the indefensible."
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