MEDIA REACTION REPORT - POPE BENEDICT XVI CHINA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002677

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA;
EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA
FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR
AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA;
ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - POPE BENEDICT XVI CHINA
PARIS - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:


1. POPE BENEDICT XVI

2. CHINA

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

NOT SURPRISINGLY ALL FRONT PAGES AND EDITORIALS ARE DEVOTED TO
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'S CHOICE OF CARDINAL JOSEPH
RATZINGER, WHO BECOMES POPE BENEDICT XVI. THE VARIETY COMES IN
THE NATURE OF THE COMMENTARY. FOR LE FIGARO THE CHOICE MARKS
"A CONTINUITY" WITH JOHN PAUL II, WHILE LIBERATION NOTES THAT
THE "CONSERVATIVE WING OF THE CHURCH" IS FAVORED. LE PARISIEN
ECHOES THIS VIEW IN ITS HEADLINE: "A CONSERVATIVE AT THE
VATICAN," WHILE FRANCE SOIR'S HEADLINE IS SIMPLY: "A GERMAN
POPE." FOR CATHOLIC LA CROIX, POPE BENEDICT XVI WILL BE A
"POPE OF TRANSITION." (SEE PART C)

LE FIGARO ALSO REPRINTS ITS AUGUST 2004 INTERVIEW WITH THE-
THEN CARDINAL RATZINGER. THE NEW POPE REMARKED ABOUT THE EU'S
CHRISTIAN ROOTS AND HIS OPPOSITION TO TURKEY'S ENTRY IN THE
EU.

CHINA, THE LIFTING OF THE ARMS EMBARGO AND THE RECENT FLARING
OF ANIMOSITY BETWEEN BEIJING AND TOKYO ARE REPORTED. IN RIGHT-
OF-CENTER LE FIGARO COMMENTATOR ALEXANDRE ADLER ANALYZES THE
RECENT CONFLICT BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN AS POSSIBLY PART OF A
MORE COMPLEX DOMESTIC CHINESE GAME AIMING AT U.S. JAPAN
ALLIANCE OR ATTEMPTING TO DESTABILIZE THE CHINESE PRESIDENT
AND PRIME MINISTER. (SEE PART C)

SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT TO MOSCOW IS NOTED IN LE FIGARO:

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"RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA HAVE NEVER BEEN SIMPLE.
THEY DETERIORATED WITH THE WAR IN IRAQ AND THE ELECTIONS IN
UKRAINE. THE KREMLIN DOES NOT APPRECIATE `LESSONS IN
DEMOCRACY.' YET, THE SECRETARY'S VISIT IS SEEN AS A SIGN OF
D ENTE AND SHE IS PERCEIVED AS UNDERSTANDING RUSSIA BETTER
THAN HER PREDECESSOR."

LE FIGARO ECONOMIE NOTES THAT FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER THIERRY
BRETON AND XAVIER DARCOS, MINISTER FOR COOPERATION,
"APPROACHED PAUL WOLFOWITZ DURING THE G7 AND REQUESTED THAT HE
ADDRESS THE CONTROVERSY OF COTTON SUBSIDIES IN THE U.S. WHICH
ENDANGER THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN AFRICA, IN CONNECTION WITH
THEIR COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING POVERTY."

THE DEBATE ABOUT THE EU CONSTITUTION AND THE FRENCH REFERENDUM
CONTINUES. LES ECHOS CARRIES A SMALL QUOTE FROM FORMER
AMBASSADOR HOWARD LEACH'S FAREWELL PRESS BRIEFING ON APRIL 12:
"THE U.S. IS OBSERVING WITH GREAT INTEREST THE DEBATE ON THE
EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION. WE ARE STRONG PARTISANS OF EUROPEAN
INTEGRATION. BUT IF I SAY ANYTHING, THE FRENCH COULD GO THE
OTHER WAY."

ECONOMIC LA TRIBUNE COMMENTS ON THE U.S. DECISION CONCERNING
EXPORT CONTROLS AND A CATAPULT FOR A FRENCH CARRIER: "IT IS A
SUBJECT OF CONCERN FOR THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES: WILL THE FUTURE
2ND FRENCH AIRCRAFT CARRIER BE EQUIPPED WITH CATAPULTS MADE IN
AMERICA ENABLING THE PLANES ON BOARD TO TAKE OFF FROM THE
RELATIVELY SHORT DECK OF THIS VESSEL? INDEED, FOR THE TIME
BEING, THE UNITED STATES REFUSES TO GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR
THIS EQUIPMENT TO BE EXPORTED, EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT HAVE
STRATEGIC VALUE, TO FRANCE. THE U.S. IS CAREFUL NOT TO SAY
THAT THIS REFUSAL IS A RETALIATORY MEASURE AGAINST THE
IRRITATING "FRENCHIES" WHO OPPOSED THE WAR IN IRAQ AND ARE THE
PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS OF AIRBUS IN ITS RACE AGAINST BOEING. IN
PARIS THE TENDENCY IS TO DOWNPLAY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
DISPUTE, EMPHASIZING THAT THIS CATAPULTING TECHNOLOGY COULD BE
DEVELOPED IN FRANCE. BUT CALCULATIONS ARE BEING MADE AND THE
RESULT IS THAT IT WOULD BE COSTLY: AROUND 50 MILLION EUROS TO
ACQUIRE THE KNOW-HOW AND SET UP THE TESTING FACILITIES
NECESSARY FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OF THIS EFFORT IN ORDER
TO PRODUCE ONLY A FEW MACHINES. THE MILITARY, THAT JEALOUSLY
MANAGES A BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN TIGHTENED OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, WOULD NOT LIKE TO HAVE TO BREAK OPEN ITS PIGGY BANK TO
FINANCE THIS TECHNOLOGY AND IS CROSSING ITS FINGERS HOPING
THAT THE FRENCH POLITICAL OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO OVERCOME
THE RETICENCE OF THE AMERICANS. BUT WASHINGTON COULD ASK FOR
SOMETHING IN RETURN."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

POPE BENEDICT XVI

"A CONSIDERABLE TASK"
MICHEL SCHIFRES IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (04/20): "WE
SHOULD NOT SPECULATE TOO MUCH ON THE CHOICE MADE BY THE
CHURCH. IT IS BETTER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POPE BENEDICT XVI HAS
BEFORE HIM A CONSIDERABLE TASK. NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE SUCCEEDS A
POPE WHO WAS ONE OF THE GIANTS OF THE CENTURY, BUT ALSO
BECAUSE POPE JOHN PAUL II GAVE THE VATICAN A GLOBAL
DIMENSION."

"INTRANSIGENCE"
GERARD DUPUY IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION (04/20): "IT IS AS
IF POPE BENEDICT XVI SUCCEEDED HIMSELF. WITH THIS CHOICE, THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT RUNNING THE RISK OF BEING ACCUSED
OF BEING TOO ORIGINAL. WHAT OTHER CONTEMPORARY INSTITUTION CAN
AFFORD TO ELECT AN OLD MAN AT ITS HELM? OR SHOW SUCH ASSURANCE
ABOUT ITS UNCHANGING DOGMA, ITS IMMUTABILITY, ITS INDIFFERENCE
TO CHANGES IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD? NOTHING IN RATZINGER'S PAST
PREDICTS THE POSSIBILITY FOR CHANGE."

"FORCE IN TRANSITION"
MICHEL KUBLER IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX (04/20): "CARDINAL
RATZINGER MOST PROBABLY GOT THE SUPPORT OF A NUMBER OF VOTERS
WHO ARE EAGER TO CREATE A PERIOD OF TRANSITION AFTER THE VERY
IMPOSING PONTIFICATE OF JOHN PAUL II. CARDINAL RATZINGER HAD
HIS PREDECESSOR'S FULL TRUST. HE IS ALSO THE BEST PLACED TO
GUARANTEE THAT THE DOGMA WILL BE PROTECTED AGAINST A DILUTION
IN MODERNITY. THE CHOICE CAN THEREFORE BE INTERPRETED AS A
CHOICE FOR A POPE OF TRANSITION, BUT A TRANSITION THAT WILL
NOT NECESSARILY BE ALL THAT SMOOTH, FOR THE NEW POPE HAS
STRONG CONVICTIONS."

"THE STRATEGIST'S VICTORY"
OLIVIER PICARD IN REGIONAL LES DERNIERES NOUVELLES D'ALSACE
(04/20): "THE MOST LIBERAL AMONG FRENCH CATHOLICS CAN
LEGITIMATELY FEAR A CONSERVATIVE TIGHTENING OF THE SCREWS,
JUST WHEN THEY WERE EXPECTING THE OPPOSITE. AS FOR THE
SECULARISM OF `THE OLDEST DAUGHTER OF THE CHURCH' (FRANCE),
SHE WAS OPENLY CRITICIZED BY THE NEW POPE WHEN THE LAW ON
RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS WAS VOTED ON."

CHINA
"DANGER IN CHINA"
ALEXANDRE ADLER IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (04/20): "THE
VIOLENT ANTI-JAPANESE CAMPAIGN IS A WARNING TO THE AMERICAN
PARTNER-ADVERSARY TO STAY PUT. BECAUSE BEIJING FEARS THE
BOOMERANG EFFECT OF AN ANTI-AMERICAN CAMPAIGN. JAPAN IS BEING
USED AS A SCAPEGOAT. IF ONE LOOKS A LITTLE CLOSER, ONE SEES
THAT THE ANTI-JAPANESE DEMONSTRATIONS CAME ABOUT SHORTLY AFTER
THE U.S. AND JAPAN SIGNED A COMMUNIQU RE-AFFIRMING THEIR
SOLIDARITY AGAINST POTENTIAL THREATS IN ASIA, AND ESPECIALLY
AFTER SIGNIFYING THAT THIS THREAT COULD CONCERN TAIWAN. THE
SITUATION IS LIKE A SINISTER SET OF RUSSIAN DOLLS OPENING A
FRIGHTENING VISTA OF CHINA BREAKING WITH THE REST OF THE
WORLD. IT IS NOT JAPAN THAT IS TARGETED, BUT THE JAPANESE-
AMERICAN ALLIANCE. IT IS NOT THIS ALLIANCE THAT IS TARGETED,
BUT THE TACIT AND NOW MORE EXPLICIT SUPPORT OF TAIWAN. AND IT
IS NOT EVEN TAIWAN WHICH IS TARGETED. WHO THEN? . THERE SEEMS
TO BE IN CHINA TODAY A GROUP AGITATING FOR THE REUNIFICATION
WITH TAIWAN TO BETTER THWART IT. SUCH A CAMPAIGN CAN ONLY LEAD
TO INCREASING TENSION BETWEEN CHINA AND ITS THREE MAJOR
ECONOMIC PARTNERS: TAIWAN, JAPAN AND THE U.S. WITHOUT WANTING
TO POINT TO A PLOT, IF ONE WANTED TO TOPPLE THE DUET OF THE
CHINESE PRESIDENT AND HIS PRIME MINISTER, THIS WOULD BE THE
WAY TO GO." WOLFF