As we all know, POTUS is on his way to China for what is sure to be a masterpiece of diplomacy and open, forthright discussion. Or not, as the case might be:
President George W. Bush would like to attend Christian religious services with Chinese worshipers during his upcoming trip to Beijing, a senior US administration official said.

"The president will look for an opportunity to worship with Chinese citizens," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Bush has vowed to push China on religious freedom during his third visit there since taking office.
This strikes me as one of those things exquisitely designed to put a burr up the Chinese government's nose.

Of course, there are officially sanctioned churches here, and I suppose something could be arranged, but I rather imagine that the Chinese government will look upon this rather like the US government might look upon a request from the Chinese to hold a pro-North Korea rally on the Mall. Or to serve the White House dogs, Barney and Ms. Beazley, at the state dinner when Hu Jintao goes to the US. At the very least there would be distaste and offense.

Of course, POTUS wasn't going to give Hu Jintao a state dinner, no matter how much the Chinese protocol apparatus lobbied for one, so that would have been a moot request at best. So would a request for a pro-North Korea rally, I imagine.

At any rate, I'll be interested to see how this plays out. It ain't quite realpolitik. From this development, a conspiracy-minded individual might see signs of the religious right exacting concessions from a chastened president.

But Imagethief is not a conspiracy-minded individual. He just has an overactive imagination.