The ability to have trade relations with one of the biggest countries on the planet would also be useful, I'd think.
If sheer size was all that mattered when it came to trade, then only China scholars would ever have heard of a 1,000 sq. km. speck on the map called "Hong Kong". How recently was it that our bilateral trade with all the rest of China exceeded that of our trade with this one little port? Getting back to the point, did Carter actually establish trade relations with China or just "make it possible"?
We haven't ever had diplomatic relations with North Korea. I guess that means we never negotiate with them about anything. If only we could get them accept one of our ambassadors, all this lingering tension from the Korean War would just melt away!
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If sheer size was all that mattered when it came to trade, then only China scholars would ever have heard of a 1,000 sq. km. speck on the map called "Hong Kong". How recently was it that our bilateral trade with all the rest of China exceeded that of our trade with this one little port? Getting back to the point, did Carter actually establish trade relations with China or just "make it possible"?
We haven't ever had diplomatic relations with North Korea. I guess that means we never negotiate with them about anything. If only we could get them accept one of our ambassadors, all this lingering tension from the Korean War would just melt away!