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