President Obama spent part of his last morning in Beijing giving an interview to Southern Weekly, a newspaper in Guangdong Province sometimes known for its push-the-envelope approach to the government's ever-present censorship. But if the White House expected a hard-hitting article that showcased the United States' commitment to press freedom, it must have been disappointed when the newspaper hit the stands on Thursday. President Obama was quoted talking about basketball. His other comments — about trade, bilateral relations and China's rise — added virtually nothing to what he had previously said on his three-day visit. Yet, as they did throughout the president's visit, the government authorities appeared to monitor carefully how his words were transmitted to China's public. They were especially vigilant about Southern Weekly's report, by some accounts, because President Obama had turned down an interview request from CCTV, China's main national television network.
