I agree with Secretary Paulson's take on China. A China that is moving in the direction of openness is good for both the world and the United States. Anything that helps ensure China will continue to move in this direction is ultimately what the United States should aspire to do.

A good quote from Secretary Paulson's interview on Meet the Press today with Tom Brokaw:

"I guess what I would say is that there are plenty of policies that the Chinese government has that we, we don't agree with, and I don't think that's really the relevant question.  I think the relevant question is, what can we do to encourage China to continue on their path of reform, to continue to move to open up and to expand human rights, expand freedoms.  And they've come a long way.  You know, I've been—you and I were talking earlier.  We've both been coming to this country for a long time, and the differences are startling. Not just in terms of the economic situation of the people in China, but some of the freedoms now that they enjoy, and their access to information and their access—ability to move around.  And so they're on the right path.  And so the question is, how do we get them to move quicker to open up?  And I think the answer there is, is engagement."