the black China hand

Michael O. Leavitt, secretary of health and human services, said he expected that Food and Drug Administration officials would eventually be embedded in China’s food safety bureaucracy to help train Chinese officials and keep records on their inspections.

I don’t get this. I mean why would China, the country that loves its privacy and fiercely guards its domestic arena from foreign interaction allow another sovereign nation to inspect its food supply. Are they for real? Furthermore, I’m not sure that I think it is a good policy move for China or the US. There are so many things that could go bad. For example, if there is another tainted pool…China can say, it’s not our fault it’s those American inspectors. Or, what will be the reaction of American inspectors if they don’t get the freedom that they are use to in the US (which it more likely then not). This definitely warrants a stay tuned and see what happens.

China Agrees to Post U.S. Safety Officials in Its Food Factories