History tells us that Gary Locke will make a fine U.S. ambassador to China. High-ranking officials in Washington, D.C., know this because in his current position as U.S. Commerce Secretary, Locke has scored many triumphs in international trade, due largely to his dozens of missions abroad. U.S. exports to China soared 34 percent last year.
Washington state residents have confidence in Locke’s future as ambassador to China because we’re familiar with his two terms as governor.
And Clark County residents are familiar with Locke’s soft-spoken but results-oriented style of public service because as governor, he made at least three dozen trips here. In fact, as governor, his first venture beyond Olympia was a 1997 trip to Camas to lead construction ceremonies at a WaferTech site. During Locke’s first term, one of his “Capital for a Day” trips was to Hudson’s Bay High School, where a community meeting was held at the school cafeteria.
So we applaud President Barack Obama’s nomination Wednesday of Locke, 61, to become ambassador to China. We hope the U.S. Senate expedites confirmation. Locke’s professional history alone makes him the perfect choice. But the justification for this nomination reaches much further back than his career, deep into his personal and family history. Locke is the only Chinese American to be elected as a U.S. governor. Locke said on Wednesday that, if his grandfather were still alive, “it would be one of his proudest moments to see his son named as the United States ambassador to his ancestral homeland.” Locke’s grandfather came to America to work as a houseboy in exchange for English lessons. Locke’s father was born in China and moved to the U.S. as a teenager.
In the seven years since he was governor, Locke has maintained his close contact with Clark County. Last month, Locke led two dozen U.S. business leaders on a high-tech trade mission to India. Among those leaders were three executives for Vancouver-based nLight: CEO Scott Keeney, chief technical officer Jason Farmer and microlaser manager Anmol Nijjar. That journey was much more than just ceremonial or diplomatic. It was vital to the economic interests of the United States, which saw a 17 percent increase in exports to India in 2010. Previously as Commerce secretary, Locke embarked on a trade mission to China and India promoting development of clean energy, an industry showing steady growth in Southwest Washington.
There is every reason to believe Locke can score more economic triumphs for our region as ambassador to China. As governor, he helped secure the Interstate 5 widening project in Salmon Creek, and he helped launch a road project near state Highway 14. Locke’s influence is felt beyond Asia. Recently he announced an agreement in which Mexico cut tariffs on Northwest red and yellow delicious apples, a boost to our state’s most famous crop.
Officials in China are ready to increase trade with American businesses. In January, Boeing finalized a deal for $19 billion, including 200 airplanes to be built for China. But as ambassador, Locke’s role will include vital duties beyond trade. America’s national security interests and extended global business developments depend on a stable relationship with China. Such outreach has been the hallmark of Locke’s career in public service. His nomination as ambassador to China is eminently appropriate in multiple ways professional and personal.
