[leo_sh]

Bill Clinton similarly voiced a hard line on China when he first arrived in the White House, but lobby groups quickly changed his tone.

Absolutely concur. Not that there are strong pro-China goups but that there are strong interest groups who know better than to ask for such unnecessary conflicts. I want to add that GW is actually much more hostile than both Bill Clinton and his father Bush Senior. The difference between GW and China-bashers si that Bush is for containment while China-bashers for open conflicts. Bill Clinton is more for positive engagement.