Clinton to China: Economy Trumps Human Rights

The US still cares about human rights in China, but "those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis, and the security crisis," Hillary Clinton said today in Beijing. In fact, it's the economic mess that makes strengthening ties with China a priority, the Daily Telegraph reports. "When you are in the same boat, you should keep the peace on the crossing," Clinton said.

Before her Asia trip, the secretary of state called the US-China relationship the world's most important. "We believe that the United States and China can benefit from and contribute to each other's successes," she said. China owns $600 billion of US government debt and will be asked to take on more. "America needs China badly right now," said an American who runs a business in Beijing. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)