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March 7, 2011 in News
Former Gov. Gary Locke to be tapped as China ambassador
In this Oct. 11, 1997 photo, then-Washington state Gov. Gary Locke, right, and his wife, Mona, survey the passing scene on both sides of the Pearl River as they travel on a ferry to the Lockes’ hometown of Jilong in southeastern China. It was Locke’s first visit to his ancestral home for the first time. A senior Obama administration official says the prresident plans to nominate Locke to be the next U.S. ambassador to China. A formal announcement is expected Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Locke is the first Chinese-American to serve as commerce secretary. His father and grandfather were born in China. He would succeed Jon Huntsman, whose resignation is effective next month. (AP Photo/Anat Givon)
(Full-size photo)
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will nominate Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, the son and grandson of Chinese immigrants, to be the next U.S. ambassador to China, a senior administration official said Monday. A formal announcement could come as early as Tuesday.
If confirmed by the Senate, Locke would succeed Jon Huntsman, one of the few Republicans in Obama’s administration. Huntsman recently tendered his resignation, effective next month, and he is eyed as a potential GOP challenger to Obama in the 2012 presidential contest.
Locke is the first Chinese American to serve as commerce secretary. Both his father and grandfather were born in China.
In an interview with The Associated Press that took place before his nomination was reported, Locke touted the economic relationship he has helped to build between the U.S. and China. He said U.S. exports to China had posted a 34 percent increase last year. Obama sees boosting U.S. exports as a way to save and create jobs and has set a goal of doubling the amount of American goods sold to other countries within five years.
Locke said China is becoming more accessible to U.S. companies, though he said that progress has been slow in coming.
“We in government and the business community want more and faster progress,” he told the AP. “There’s still a long way to go.”
Locke said that in areas such as intellectual property rights, the U.S. needs to “keep the Chinese accountable” and “constantly monitor them, and let them know that we’re not just going to accept their assurances.”
The administration official requested anonymity to speak ahead of the formal announcement.
ABC News first reported on Locke’s pending nomination on Monday.
© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Patanjali on March 07 at 4:50 p.m.
An Excellent choice
de3 on March 07 at 5:17 p.m.
I agree. Good choice.
Shadedmuse on March 07 at 5:25 p.m.
I think Comerace is a better job then being Amasador to China? Maybe Gary Lohe can try and get some jobs back from China.
hawken on March 07 at 5:56 p.m.
I hope Locke is effective in his new job, and that he doesn’t apologize to China for America’s freedom, goodness and greatness, like his boss.
Ninch on March 07 at 6:41 p.m.
Why did the AP leave out that Locke was also the first Chinese American to serve as a state governor? Locke has been very effective as Commerce Secretary because he represented the trade interests of Washington State so well among the Pacific Rim nations… and I think that somehow the AP wanted to give some credit to Obama because of his vision of “boosting US exports…” How about Locke’s long held vision and authentic actions toward boosting exports? Why must such very competent persons be presented as beholden/subservient to Obama?
Ninch on March 07 at 6:45 p.m.
P.S. Locke is much more culturally competent than Obama when dealing with other cultures/nations so I do not think he will bow needlessly or be apologizing for America.
SpokyDaBear on March 07 at 10:53 p.m.
Does he get free Chinese food?
Bullshapitsca on March 08 at 6:56 p.m.
My buddy Bob says the fortune cookies are hard to read.