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00:00Give us your take on the Chinese regime. They've taken a fairly extreme position we're just not going to let it in the country. And they're having a lot of success but not a half percent. That's true. Frankly they're taking Covid probably more seriously than any other country I can think of. I mean zero lockdown is pretty serious. And my Chinese friends tell me they don't mind zero lockdown. That is they don't mind the inconvenience. They're tested virtually every time they turn around. And they can't travel nerves near as much as they'd like to sample within. China's difficult to go in and out of Beijing because they're Beijing's capital and more Covid cases in China. On the other hand there are there are adverse consequences because of the lockdown in China. Covid frankly is is much more out of control obviously in other parts of the world. But because of the lockdown there are food shortages there inconveniences in China. Now they're going to be I think a further supply chain disruptions that's going to have adverse consequences economically in China but also to the armed states because our supply chain is going to be a bit disrupted. So I would take my hat off to how strongly China's working on this. Better than we are. Frankly by far. But there's there's no free lunch. There are consequences. We'll talk about the economic consequences particularly. What effect is it going to have on the growth pattern in China. They already was struggling a little bit. I mean struggling for them is looks good for the rest of world. But still compared to what they have been doing it appears that President Xi is willing to give up some economic growth in order to be discovered. I think he has. I remember it wasn't too many years ago. China's growth rate was 10 12 percent. That was under then Premier Ji Rongji. And people that helped rebuild China and the WTO owns slowly that growth rates have been coming down. And important too during the financial crisis. No way. We were negative. But China was so positive. Their growth rate which I think President Xi is looking at the Beijing Olympics. He is doing all he possibly can to do present in his country in a positive light. That means controlling Covid to a large degree. And so is this. He is he is willing to suffer some of the economic downturns as long as he can get it Covid under control. I think he thinks that he could do both at once. But Covid probably more important right now. So you mentioned the Olympics. There also is that you Lunar New Year which is a really big deal in China. I at least as an America and really I marvel at their ability to shut down the country in the face of that. Can you imagine what would happen back in the states that this happened. I mean if you would be marching in the streets is that just because he is such an authoritative figure an autocrat as it were. I think it's partly because is authoritative. He's autocratic. But also it's the Chinese people. The Chinese people are used to that. Don't forget they lived under emperors for thousands of years. When the emperor controls everything and emperors in China do well other people do well at first in China don't do well when people don't do well. So he's doing all he can to help the people do well. That means as much as possible helping raise incomes address urban water pollution health better health care for example raise a poverty level. So he's just he's working very very hard. That's what we can't see him. So Mr. Ambassador I think we can't talk about the Olympics over there with at least mentioning what's going on with the workers because a lot of people are really withholding. We're not setting a diplomatic allocation. No officials. And I said you're going over a lot of that. We have certain athletes are speaking out against dead. There's a lot of pressure on the International Olympic Committee to do more. That's doing. Does that have any effect within China within the regime or is that simply a Western phenomenon. I think you put your finger on it. We are of course very strongly stand up for human rights. But when it reimpose sanctions on China by a larger Chinese don't care. It just water off the back of. It's not going to change. Sanctions will not change China's behavior. Not not sending a delegation or two Olympics will not change China's behavior. On the other hand it is an expression of Americans standing up for values. I think that's very important worldwide where America as much as possible be the beacon on the hill. Now we're not so China right ourselves sometimes and other countries point out but we should still talk about human rights and we must be honest that we sanction other countries human rights. It has no effect on China's behavior. None whatsoever. And finally Mr. Ambassador I'm mindful of the fact that you served with Harry Reid the gentleman who was the majority Senate majority leader for eight years the longest of any but other than to other people in history. Why you spend a minute just reminiscing about Harry Reid who was late. State just yesterday in the Capitol Rotunda allowed Harry Reid. This one was genuine. Persons I've had the privilege to know a totally honest is word is his bond. Totally. That meant he's also totally loyal. He's very loyal to you. If you to him he would go out of his way to help you in the best sense of the term. Frankly when I decided not to run again for the U.S. Senate and a side area I did he at the US ambassador to China because I care so much about the U.S. China relationship. I told Harry Reid is that. Gee Max let me see if I could. Do they help you there. I could follow the vice president. I'll call Vice President Biden. He's very close to Obama I'll tell you. Or Biden to put in a good word for you. I'll get that job. That's Harry Reid. He also is very religious that he didn't wear it on his sleeve. You'd read scripture the New Testament Old Testament the Book of Mormon a very good Mormon family and a church and tie. He's also a pragmatist. He wasn't a crazy guy. He's just trying to get solutions. And it really is a good example of what we need in Washington day. Hard working very hard working honest smart but trying to get solutions trying to get agreements. It doesn't. He would talk to McConnell's two or three times a day trying to reach some agreements. They didn't ISE reach agreements. But in the Senate it's very important to have a talk together like that. Harry Reid was one of the best.

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China Is Handling Covid Better Than U.S.: Max Baucus

Max Baucus, a former American ambassador to China who also served for more than three decades in the U.S. Senate, discusses China's response to the Covid-19 pandemic ahead of the 2022 Beijing Olympics and reminisces about his former colleague Senator Harry Reid. He speaks with Bloomberg's David Westin on "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)

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