I think he would like to convey that China is not a threat, that China's growing clout is benign for the world.

We're not going into this with the premise that China is wrong. We're going into this with the premise ... that China's leaders are moving China in a direction that's going to be ultimately good for them and the world but that these are things they have to do to succeed.

I cannot convey how much of a difference that is.

I think you have to look at the totality of it as to whether or not it's a legitimate threat or whether or not it's sort of ranting -- offensively responding to something you might have seen written on the Web by someone else.

Aspirin is not a benign drug.

The point is not to lecture. We approach this from the premise that U.S.-China relations are good and we're committed to making them better.