Beijing has long seen through the hypocrisy of US politics and would not have been surprised by the leaked diplomatic cables detailing how two American Congressmen pleaded for officials to overlook the use of a toxic chemical in US-made medical equipment, analysts said yesterday.
'The United States is a pragmatic country, so they would put their own interest first,' said Jin Canrong, associate dean of Renmin University's School of International Relations. 'It is no surprise to China that [the US] adopts double standards when it comes to its own interest ... it's very normal.'
According to Reuters, the cables showed that the first time Mark Kirk, then a House Republican from Illinois, and Rick Larsen, a Democrat from Washington, spoke to Beijing about product safety, it was to admonish Vice-minister for Foreign Affairs He Yafei over scandals in 2007 involving Chinese exports that were found to contain toxins including lead.
The mainland came under international scrutiny after a series of food and product-safety scandals involving exported goods ranging from pet foods containing melamine to tainted toothpaste and substandard toys, aquatic products and tyres.
In 2007, Mattel, the world's largest toymaker, recalled 21 million Chinese-made products after some were found to have lead paint and others small magnets that could be swallowed. Beijing fought back, saying this was largely due to the company's faulty designs.
Shi Yinhong, director of the Centre for American Studies at Renmin University, said the leak should serve to remind the United States that it is not in a position to point accusing fingers.