THAI COUP CAPTURES CHINESE MEDIA ATTENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 020019

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2031
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCUL SOCI CH
SUBJECT: THAI COUP CAPTURES CHINESE MEDIA ATTENTION

REF: 05 BEIJING 5277

Classified By: Political Internal Unit Chief Susan A.
Thornton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) News of the overnight coup in Thailand
dominated the news cycle in Beijing September 20.
Coverage was generally straightforward and emphasized
that the coup was orderly and bloodless. Popular
dailies ran front page headlines and Internet news
sites quickly developed special coverage links,
complete with colorful graphics and timelines.
Propaganda authorities have not yet issued guidance on
media treatment of the story, contacts reported. They
speculated that censors would react quickly if images
of social unret start coming out of Bangkok. The
incident omes at a time when Chinese interest in
Thailand is surging, both among tourists and
entrpreneurs. Moreover, regular news consumers are
aware of PM Thaksin's Chinese ancestry. Manychat
room postings on the coup noted opposition to the
military's actions. End Summary.

Front Page News
--------------


2. (C) High-circulation Chinese dailies such as The
Beijing News and the Beijing Youth Daily ran bold
headlines at the top of their front pages announcing
the overnight coup in Bangkok. The Beijing News
included a two-page special section recapping the
events, complete with dramatic color photographs, a
map and a timeline. Most major official newspapers
ran straightforward coverage that emphasized that the
coup was orderly and bloodless. Party mouthpiece The
People's Daily published a short coup-related piece on
page three. Internet news sites such as Sohu.com and
Sina.com provided the most colorful treatment of the
story, including many photographs and links to
background information on Thailand and Prime Minister
Thaksin. The official Xinhuanet wire service site
also gave the coup top billing on its list of
headlines and added a Thai flag graphic to all related
pages of online coverage.

No Guidance Yet
--------------


3. (C) As of the afternoon of September 20, the
Central Propaganda Department had issued no specific
coverage guidelines, our media contacts said. The
press often has more leeway on foreign news stories
than on domestic ones, said Zhou Qing'an (protect),a
free lance writer who contributes commentary on
international issues to the progressive Beijing News.
Although published images of unrest involving tanks in
streets never please China's leadership, this coup
does not have the same sensitivity as the so-called
"color revolution" in Kyrgyzstan a year and a half
ago. Authorities strictly controlled coverage of that
event after an initial delay in disseminating guidance
(reftel). Despite the overnight drama in Thailand,
the story did not involve powerful pictures of people
taking to the streets demanding change. As such,
Propaganda authorities probably feel coverage of the
issue has little bearing on China's own stability,
Zhou surmised. He concluded that while the unrest in
Kyrgystan was uncharted territory, coups in Thailand
are not without precedent.


4. (C) Two developments could spur the censors to
impose coverage restrictions, said Li Tao (protect),a
professor at the Tsinghua University School of
Journalism and Communications who has strong ties to
the Government. One would be if a publication decided
to take sides in the matter without official
permission. (Note: Despite some greater leeway in
coverage of international events, Chinese media
generally track the editorial line of the official
Xinhua news agency on international issues. End
note.) China does not want to harm its relationship
with whoever emerges as the new Thai leader, Li said.
In addition, if a Kyrgyz- or Ukraine-style popular
movement were to materialize, the Propaganda
Department would issue coverage restrictions. The
fact that corruption, a hot topic in China, appears to
have played a big role in Thaksin's troubles will not
likely influence the censors' thinking, Zhou the free

BEIJING 00020019 002 OF 002


lance writer said.

High Interest in Thailand, Thaksin
--------------


5. (C) Prominent coverage of Thai coup will help sell
papers, Zhou asserted in explaining the prominence of
the story. Interest in Thailand, a neighbor with deep
connections to China, has surged in recent years among
average Chinese. An increasing number of Chinese
tourists are traveling to Thailand, where investment
from Chinese entrepreneurs is on the upswing, he said.
Moreover, when Thaksin came to power, much was made in
the Mainland press of his Chinese origins. In fact,
The Beijing News' coverage of the coup included a
sidebar outlining Thaksin's background that emphasized
his Guangdong background -- from four generations ago.
"Any Chinese with the slightest interest in foreign
affairs knows that Thaksin is part Chinese," Zhou
remarked. More sophisticated readers, he continued,
are aware of the United States' close relationship to
Thailand and are keen to see what reaction might come
from Washington.

A Barrage of Mixed Views Online
--------------


6. (C) Internet chat rooms were brimming with
postings about the coup. The People.com online
bulletin board included mixed opinions. Some netizens
supported the view that the coup brought down a
"capitalist" (meant pejoratively) government and that
"young people are happy." Others expressed concern
that the incident could influence regional stability
or even events in Taiwan. But on the popular Tianya
site, most comments opposed the military's action,
complaining about the Thai king's behavior and the
toppling of a popularly-elected leader. A typical
entry read, "Once again, political power comes from
the gun and spear."

RANDT