It’s reported US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner called his Chinese “counterpart” Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

There is a problem there. Geithner’s counterpart should be Finance Minister Xie Xuren.

From President Obama to Treasury Secretary Geithner, it’s only one level down.

From President Hu Jintao to Geithner’s real counterpart Xie, there are two more levels: Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier for Trade
and Finance.

I won’t want to cut out Premier Wen’s job because China is too big. But I’ll definitely cut Vice Premier Wang Qishan out of the equation.