This is a series of cb-s I in the world. I'm John Battle with Gordon Chang. We're very pleased to be joined by Stephen Yates, chair of the America First Policy Institute's China Policy Initiative. Steve, a very good evening to you.

There's been a cancellation in China of a post-Press conference, post-People's Congress meeting at the Great Hall of China

press conference by the Premier of the country, whom I'm told to look as a combination of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury

Secretary.

His name is Lee.

They've canceled his post People's Congress press conference, not only for this year but going out a several more years.

This has gained great attention but I'm unclear as to why.

Good evening to you Steve.

What's the big deal about somebody not giving us what you'd have to say was propaganda?

Well, John, I think there's actually quite a lot behind this is

much more we could add to it. I think this is strategically significant.

In the first instance, this tradition, let's call it, began in the wake of the Tiananmen Square

massacre related sanctions and the need for the Chinese leadership to try to address

the international community and they felt like they had

something to say about economic performance, economic opportunity, the desire to integrate

with the world, that they were willing and able to stand in front of the international media and answer

questions.

It was kind of the rise of an idea about technocracy inside the Chinese system and the premier as the person who runs the

government as opposed to the party general secretary who is politics in command

and command over the Central Military Commission was seen as somewhat separate.

So that was a very, very important branding movement by the Chinese leadership coming

through the 1990s and up to the current era.

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