I assume you saw and read this WSJ article over the Thanksgiving holiday (click here).

Why do you think China did this?

1. Payback for President Bush’s recent meeting with the Dali Lama in October and Congress’ giving the Dali Lama its highest award?

2. It’s part of modern day “kowtowing” game that China likes to play, and that Dr. Morris spoke extensively about when he talked to us about China’s history (FYI — hours later, after China changed its mind and said the carrier fleet could dock in Hong Kong, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters, “It is a decision out of humanitarian consideration only”)?

3. The person in charge of China’s governmental PR strategy is either 200 years old, or, he/she was smoking a crack pipe the day his/her boss came to him/her asking, “what should we do?”

4. Retaliation for the Pentagon’s recent approval of a $940 million upgrade to Taiwan’s Patriot antimissile shield?

5. The Chinese don’t like turkey and all fixins’ that American servicemen would bring to Hong Kong.

6. The port call coincided with a large-scale naval and air operation by the People’s Liberation Army along coastal China, and would have put the U.S. ships in easy monitoring distance of the exercises?

7. Hong Kong is so darn rich that China does not need tourist dollars from American servicemen.

8. Other?

Discuss.

Further, assume you are a member of a high level panel of advisors that regularly meets with President Bush to provide him with feedback and ideas on foreign policy matters. You are the only business person and business voice on that panel. The rest of the panel consists of people with lifelong careers in government, several 4 star generals looking to test their troops’ battle readiness and/or probe and test some of China’s military soft spots, high level religious leaders, journalists, academics, and an assortment of do-gooders with humanitarian agendas.

President Bush asks for ideas re: what the American response to this snub should be, if any. The discussion around the table comes to you; again, the only person in the room with extensive experience in business and private industry.

It’s your turn to step up to the plate and give the President your frank advice. He looks at you and says, “I have always valued your input, as you are in tune with the practicalities of the real world. I feel strongly that we can’t act like a significant snub like this never happened. Our carrier fleet has been coming to and docking in Hong Kong for years around Thanksgiving, and the Chinese damn well know that. What does the business community have to say about this recent event and how should we respond? Won’t ‘turning the other cheek’ just give the Chinese a ‘get out of jail free card’ to do something like this again in the future?”

What will you tell him, and why?

January 3, 2008 update: Nice op-ed piece in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal on this topic, China Flexes Its Muscles.