Michelle Malkin has the video link of the incident that played itself out on the White House South Lawn this morning and it neatly captures my core argument about China. They are a crucial partner for the West and we should work with them on a host of issues, but it doesn’t mean we should be quiet about certain things. It’s a fine balance and not an easy one to navigate, but there is simply no other option. Bush said it as follows during the ceremony with President Hu:

As the relationship between our two nations grows and matures, we can be candid about our disagreements. I'll continue to discuss with President Hu the importance of respecting human rights and freedoms of the Chinese people. China has become successful because the Chinese people are experience the freedom to buy, and to sell, and to produce -- and China can grow even more successful by allowing the Chinese people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely, and to worship.

No free markets can exist in any successful manner for long without a free flow of information and the rule of law. That truth will eventually catch up with Hu, but it will not be until China's economic engine runs out of steam that he will be forced to consider it.