“China’s top banking regulator issued a sharp critique of U.S. financial management only hours before President Barack Obama commenced his first visit to the Asian giant, highlighting economic and trade tensions that threaten to overshadow the trip. Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, said that a weak U.S. dollar and low U.S. interest rates had led to ‘massive speculation’ that was inflating asset bubbles around the world. It has created ‘unavoidable risks for the recovery of the global economy, especially emerging economies,’ Mr. Liu said. … His comments signaled that Mr. Obama — on the third leg of a four-country Asian tour — can expect blunt talk from Chinese leaders on the economy.” (11/16/09)