Though Max Baucus is not considered a China hand, his strong suit is his extensive experience in trade issues as he played a pivotal role in China's joining the World Trade Organization. And one of his strengths compared with Gary Locke is his relationships on Capitol Hill and among the Washington elite. This will help keep Obama and US policymakers focused on China as they are distracted by myriad domestic and global issues.

CNN

Max Baucus is a leading Democratic trade advocate. During the 1990s, he fought Democratic Party colleagues to keep China's most favored nation status that allowed China to receive equal trade advantages.

New York Times

With established political stature, Max Baucus is the person the White House wants to install in Beijing after the other top post in East Asia, the ambassador to Japan, was filled by an Obama fundraiser and Asia neophyte, Caroline Kennedy.

Los Angeles Times