Sarah Palin knows more about Beijing than Obama, apparently

Gosh, we really have missed the antics of Sarah Palin ever since she stepped down from her post as Governor earlier this year. But we're holding out against all odds for a 2012 presidential run: can you imagine all the sound bytes? In any case, Sarah was in Hong Kong yesterday for her first commercial speaking engagement, a keynote address at the CLSA Investors' Forum. And to say the least, it was key-noteworthy.

Foreign Policy has a nice compendium of Palin quotes, ranging from the jingoistically obsolete to the outright incendiary. And, being in the East for the first time ever, she naturally had to weigh in on important Sino-US issues.

From Foreign Policy:

On the Chinese military:

China has some 1000 missiles aimed at Taiwan and no serious observer believes Taiwan poses a military threat to Beijing. Those same Chinese forces make our friends in Japan and Australia nervous. China provides support for some of the world's most questionable regimes from Sudan to Burma to Zimbabwe. China's military buildup raises concerns from Delhi to Tokyo because it has taken place in the absence of any discernible external threat.

China, along with Russia, has repeatedly undermined efforts to impose tougher sanctions on Iran for its defiance of the international community in pursuing its nuclear program. The Chinese food and product safety record has raised alarms from East Asia and Europe to the United States. And, domestic incidents of unrest -- from the protests of Uighurs and Tibetans, to Chinese workers throughout the country rightfully make us nervous.

With a sizable, intelligent staff and good speechwriters, it's granted that Palin would give a halfway decent speech. Beyond misspeaking, she doesn't have much opportunity for sociopolitical gaffes. But we were a bit shocked to see the Wall Street Journal say that "The former vice presidential candidate understands Beijing better than the Obama Administration does". Ouch. We always thought scripted speeches were bad indicators of intelligence or understanding. Let's hope Katie Couric won't ruin our new found respect for Palin's...reading abilities?