Orville Schell, director of the Center on US-China Relations at the Asia Society, described Russel as a very knowledgeable, experienced and able Asia hand with important diplomatic skills that have been honed by his work on the National Security Council.
“My main concern is that the Obama administration currently lacks a high official with strong China experience and a record of dealing face-to-face with Chinese officials,” he said. “I hope the Obama administration will find a way to remedy this gap, possibly even by designating someone like Vice-President (Joe) Biden, as president Bush designated (Treasury Secretary) Hank Paulson, to carry a special interdepartmental China portfolio.”
China-US relations have the best chance for stability, Schell believes, when each side has an effective, high-level go-between.
via Nominated East Asia diplomat ‘top choice’|Top Stories|chinadaily.com.cn.