Huge new US embassy reflects growing US-China ties (2nd largest in the world behind Iraq's)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BEIJING - A massive new U.S. Embassy, the second-largest in the world after the heavily fortified compound in Baghdad, formally opens in the Chinese capital this week, a testament to the depth and breadth of the ties binding the trading partners and sometimes rivals.

President Bush, who will be attending the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies Friday, is to preside over the ribbon-cutting at the $434 million, 500,000-square-foot compound that same day. Embassy personnel will not move in until after the Olympics in case there are glitches in communications or other systems.

The eight-story main building, wrapped in an outer envelope of freestanding transparent and opaque glass, was designed with traditional Chinese elements in mind. Narrow walkways lined with bamboo link diplomatic "neighborhoods."

"The scale and size of this embassy — set on 10 acres in a new diplomatic zone — symbolizes the future of the relationship as it expands in scope and breadth," said Victor Cha, director of Asian studies at Georgetown University and author of a forthcoming book, "Beyond the Final Score: The Politics of Sport in Asia."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_re_as/china_us_embassy;_

[saigon68]

1. Its good all seniors in amerika have great healthcare

Otherwise we couldn't afford this

</sarcasm>

[Psephos]

2. $434 million wouldn't buy much healthcare

Meanwhile, I'd just as soon we have the right diplomatic and regulatory structures in place to oversee relations with a multi-hundred-billion dollar trading partner and political rival. Seem like money well spent to help avoid friction or misunderstandings, and to increase political, multiparty cooperation when dealing with global problems.

I do hear what you're saying, though. :hi:

[dysfunctional press]

3. but it would buy a lot of art...

the 2008 federal budget for the nea- $144.7 million...and according to a lot of conservatives, it's killing us.

[saigon68]

6. A conscientious reply

Thank you

[madrchsod]

4. great ......more misery for the workers in the usa.....

oh well, my time is short on the earth so i do hope my kids and grandkids can survive the future...maybe they can work for the chinese corporations

[blayne]

5. The architect's renderings can be seen here:

http://www.som.com/content.cfm/us_embassy_beijing

We can't forget about the Iraq embassy as well. I also stumbled on this to put it in perspective:

http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/NEWUSEMBASSYINIRAQ.HTML

"The Beijing embassy that opened in 2008, had previously been described as the 'largest single construction project undertaken by the Department of State on foreign soil.' It is ten acres, compared to Iraq's 104 acres."

"According to the U.K. Times, the Iraqi people call this 'George Bush's Palace' or 'George W's Palace.' In the Baghdad cafes, they 'moan that the structure is bigger than anything Saddam Hussein ever built'"

-------------------------------------------------------
Iraq:
29,267,0004 population
169,234 sq miles
104 acres for embassy

China:
1,329,349,388 population
3,601,011 sq miles
10 acres for embassy