ONE of the Government's most fervent aims is to keep the Sino-British row out of the United States' imminent decision on renewal of China's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trade status.
But the trouble with rows is that they seldom oblige by staying in pigeon holes.
Opponents will sweep up every bit of ammunition they can find, and as in every such war there is no such thing as playing fair.
Already Mr and Mrs America are being dished up with a morning diet of corn flakes and news of Britain's push for democracy (democracy equals good) and China's increasingly disturbing rhetoric rejecting democracy (bad).
Next month, when the champion of that democracy, Mr Chris Patten, charges into Washington, media interest in that city is bound to intensify.
The man has already become a chat show hero - a thing for which the American appetite knows no bounds - and it can be tough to ignore a good drama, especially when the subject is as emotional as democracy and when one of the key protagonists is in town.
