Obama in China

President Barack Obama has a full agenda in China this week as he meets with Chinese leaders.

Key trade and political issues divide the two countries, but each government wants to cultivate the U.S.-China relationship.

Mr. Obama is expected to tread lightly in discussion of trade imbalances, protectionism and China's currency, which has not appreciated and thus disadvantages the U.S. dollar.

Yet he must broach the subjects: for instance, in the $407.5 billion total trade between the two countries, imports of Chinese goods outnumber U.S. exports by about 5-to-1. But trade objections by Mr. Obama are likely to elicit references from the hosts of U.S. punitive tariffs on Chinese steel, pipes and tires.

The political and ideological issues are always factors in any meeting between the two countries — Tibet, human rights and freedom of expression in China. How much is said varies from one U.S. administration to another, and is weighed against other pressing issues.

There are other considerations as well — regional security and nuclear nonproliferation. The United States seeks China's cooperation on tougher measures against Iran and North Korea, for instance. The global economy and climate change policy will arise as well.

The United States needs China, the largest purchaser of U.S. debt. The economic relationship must remain strong. President Obama's China policy is unclear, which makes his trip all the more intriguing.