If the White House believes President Barack Obama's charisma can be a foreign policy asset, that theory is about to face its toughest test in China, where he arrived last night, the latest stop in his inaugural Asia tour.

Perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, China has been immune to the popular love-in that surrounded the Obama election. For sure, young Chinese like the president – they think he is cool and they understand the symbolism of an African-American in the White House. But they have not been caught up in the hero-worship seen in, say, parts of Europe.

After their own experience with Mao's cult of personality, they are pretty suspicious of politicians with a saintly air. Indeed, around Beijing, there have been T-shirts for sale with an image of Obama wearing a Mao suit.