海角大神

If first impressions count, this is a big one.

Xi Jinping, the man who will run China over the next decade as the incoming Communist Party chief, meets with President Obama for the first time this week. How well the two leaders get along may determine whether the world鈥檚 two most powerful countries can work out their growing differences.

A sharp warning preceded Mr. Xi鈥檚 week-long visit to the United States. The two nations have a 鈥渢rust deficit,鈥� said one Chinese official. Indeed, their militaries barely talk to each other, and yet they are each muscling up their forces in Asia in a contest of influence over the world鈥檚 most dynamic region.

The two men need to show they can develop the kind of close rapport that will prevent confrontation. Mr. Obama met 10 times with Xi鈥檚 predecessor, Hu Jintao, and still the bilateral ties have only worsened. China now simply ignores the human rights complaints of Washington while the US laments China鈥檚 lack of support on Syria, Iran, and other issues.

Xi may be better prepared to improve communications than was the cool and stiff Mr. Hu. He has a daughter at Harvard and once briefly stayed with a family in Iowa. His father was a leading political reformer, and his wife is a famous folk singer. Xi鈥檚 affable, outgoing demeanor will go far to put a warm face on China鈥檚 actions.

Yet he is also the product of a secretive selection process, one designed to keep the Communist Party in power. He must operate within the tight consensus of a collective leadership, one that seems incapable of responding well to urban youth who are freedom-demanding and in touch with the world.

China鈥檚 leaders seek sympathy and respect for their internal challenges even as they seek to replace longtime American influence in Asia. They鈥檙e not succeeding.

China鈥檚 bullying of its neighbors has pushed Obama to beef up American naval and air defenses among friendly Asia nations. And the Chinese cyberattacks on the US, China鈥檚 theft of intellectual property, and its currency manipulation to boost exports have only increased foreign criticism of Beijing鈥檚 authoritarian hand.

China鈥檚 budget for internal security now exceeds that of its military, a sign of rising distrust of the people by their rulers. Dissidents are more quickly jailed, and local protests over corruption erupt more often.

Obama can find a way to still speak frankly with Xi about China鈥檚 repressive ways while improving communication on other issues, such as North Korea鈥檚 nuclear threat and China鈥檚 dubious territorial claims. Most of all, the president can be firm about continuing the US defense that has allowed Asia to prosper even as it welcomes China to use peaceful diplomacy within the region鈥檚 multilateral forums.

Finding the right place for China within Asia requires that it be transparent about its military intentions. That鈥檚 lacking so far. The best outcome of any Obama-Xi rapport would be if China opens up its military to close inspection, something its neighbors expect. Obama has been very open and clear about expanding the US military in Asia. He should expect the same of Xi.