Who would have thought Chinese state-run media could give more thorough coverage of Climategate than the U.S. MSM?

“It is exceedingly interesting that Ms. Li’s thought seems to have evolved, too. Before Copenhagen she seemed to be a true believer, dedicated to CO2 reductions and angry at the U.S. for not shouldering its share, with no real doubts about the basic problem. Now, her views seem considerably more open, and one is entitled to speculate (or hope) that this change is also representative of a general phenomenon among Chinese elites.

More than a decade ago, I helped write speeches skeptical of climate change for the executives of the American Petroleum Institute. To the charge that we had an economic interest, our answer was:

Of course we do, and that means that you should look very intensively at our data and arguments and insist on openness. But we do ask that you recognize that those in the other camp also have strong personal and economic interests, and that you give their material the same level of scrutiny.

It has gotten late, but it appears that our plea is being answered. But never, ever, did we dream that the road to salvation went through China.”