“Will China’s economy continue to grow fast and steadily? Yes, it will.”

Thus spake Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In general, Chinese authorities have been quick to note that though the nation is as entrenched as any other in the financial crisis, the government has enacted measures to protect economic growth.

Take for instance their $585 billion economic stimulus package, designed to stem a crisis which has already claimed 20 million Chinese jobs.  

The package is meant to jumpstart the economy, which has seen its growth rate slashed from 13 percent in 2007, to nine percent in 2008, and is now estimated to be at 6.5-7.5 percent for the upcoming year.

Wielding the third largest world economy, China’s potential to help the West and other nations recover from the credit crisis is vast.  

With a balanced budget, a fairly low debt to GDP ratio and a planned economy (that is, in comparison with the West), China can feasibly continue to increase spending to stimulate their economy, which could, in turn, boost other economic powers.

Yet, as other nations, mainly Western powers, look to China for support and assistance in these trying economic times, how far are they willing to ignore China’s human rights violations? In particular, what is President Obama willing to let slide?

It will be interesting to see how Obama will respond to the issue of China. After all, this is the man who in his time as senator co-sponsored Senate Resolution 203, the “China Resolution,” which called for China to use its influence to end genocide in Darfur.  

This is also the man who, in March of last year, during the long primary season, said, “Tibet should enjoy genuine and meaningful autonomy… Now is the time [for China] to respect the human rights and religious freedom of the people of Tibet.”

It’ll be interesting to see what, if any, policy changes are made from Secretary of State Clinton’s trip through Asia this week, especially regarding China.