Terry Branstad 'old friend of China to be US ambassador'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will be nominated by Donald Trump to be US ambassador to China, US media say.

Mr Branstad was seen entering Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday for talks with the president-elect.

He called Chinese President Xi Jinping a "long-time friend" when Mr Xi visited Iowa before becoming Chinese leader.

After Bloomberg first reported the nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, Beijing responded by calling Mr Branstad an "old friend".


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38240009

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This sounds remarkably non-confrontational, given Trump's recent antics.

Oh - just noticed - "However, Mr Branstad's spokesman said reports of the nomination were "premature".

[geek tragedy]

1. seems like a fun job nt

[SoCalNative]

2. Well, to be fair

anything would have to be better than being governor of Iowa....

[cab67]

3. Please, China....

....keep him.

[emmadoggy]

6. My thoughts exactly.

[TNNurse]

4. So someone who might actually know something about the job?

I know little about Branstad but the fact that he has actually met Chinese people makes him more qualified than any other of his appointees.

[moondust]

5. May not know much.

China wants to befriend (and maybe buy???) U.S. farming states in the interest of their own food security. A cordial but perhaps superficial acquaintance with a U.S. governor is better than nothing. Huntsman would have been a better choice since he speaks "some" Mandarin and has prior diplomatic experience as ambassador to China for a couple years.