Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES822
2006-04-11 17:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION US-CHINA-LATIN AMERICA US

Tags:  KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0822/01 1011741
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111741Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4127
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000822 

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STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION US-CHINA-LATIN AMERICA US
IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION ITALIAN ELECTIONS US-VENEZUELA
US-ECUADORIAN FTA ARGENTINE ECONOMY MINISTER TO
WASHINGTON 04/11/06


UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000822

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STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION US-CHINA-LATIN AMERICA US
IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION ITALIAN ELECTIONS US-VENEZUELA
US-ECUADORIAN FTA ARGENTINE ECONOMY MINISTER TO
WASHINGTON 04/11/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's key international stories include US Assistant
Secretary Thomas Shannon's upcoming trip to Beijing;

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immigrants' demonstrations throughout the US;
nationalist Ollanta Humala leading the count for
Sunday's presidential election; conservative Silvio
Berlusconi locked in a battle for power with center-
left challenger Romano Prodi; the USG warning
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez; the obstacles faced
by the US-Ecuador FTA; Argentine Economy Minister
Miceli's upcoming trip to Washington; and French
President Chirac surrendering to protesters by
discarding a youth employment measure that had spurred
nationwide unrest.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "The 'Chinese' danger in Latin America"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an opinion piece
by Andres Oppenheimer, who writes (04/11) "When US
Assistant Secretary for Latin American Affairs Thomas

A. Shannon arrives in China this week to hold a series
of meetings with his counterpart in Beijing, he will
likely convey a subtle message - not to undermine
Latin America's democratic consensus. Will China act
accordingly?

"... The US State Department does not see China as a
threat in Latin America but rather as a country with
fabulous growth that desperately needs raw materials
to maintain its growth rates. According to this line
of thought, China is so absorbed by its own domestic
needs that it does not have energy to launch itself to
political adventures in other corners of the world.

"For its part, the Department of Defense fears that
China could turn into the main source of military
training in the region, partly due to a recent US law
banning military aid for countries that authorize the
arrest of US citizens to be prosecuted by the
International Criminal Court. According to the US
Pentagon's officials, Washington should also focus on
China's intelligence and cybernetic war activities in
the region.

"... My conclusion is that the Bush administration
noticed that, in addition to having increased its

imports from Latin America by 600% during the last
five years, having invested roughly one billion dollar
per year in the region and having sent tens of
military missions for training purposes to Latin
American countries, China has recently obtained the
observer status at the OAS, and it is seeking to play
a similar role at the IDB.

"I would not be surprised if the Bush administration
wanted to draw a line to make sure that China does not
become an extra-regional source of military support
for anti-US, radical governments in the region, just
like Venezuela (such as the soviet Union did with
Cuba).

"China is likely to appease Shannon... China's main
political interest in Latin America is preserving
stability to prevent disruptions in its raw material
supply. And as the US second trading partner, after
Canada, China does not have much to win by unleashing
a confrontation between Washington and Latin America.
The US should not be worried, at least for now."

- "Immigrants' claims flooded US cities"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (04/11) "...
Demonstrators flooded more than 100 US cities, in
which organizers termed 'the largest immigrants'
mobilization in the history of the US.' They dream of
forming a new social movement in the event the US
Senate delays the immigration debate due to November's
legislative elections.

"... US President George W. Bush defended
demonstrators, but he was cautious not to reveal his



view. He said, 'The good thing about democracy is that
people can express themselves,' and he hardly defined
demonstrations as 'a signal of an important issue over
which people have strong feelings.' Immigrants' groups
in North Carolina and Dallas, Texas confirmed that the
labor and economic boycott scheduled for May 1 is a
way to show the impact of immigrants on the economy."

- "A country which is broken in two and which has a
big challenge - governance"

Elisabetta Pique, Rome-based correspondent for daily-
of-record "La Nacion," writes (04/11) "Beyond the fact
that it is a deeply divided country, if something was
clear after the ambiguous outcome of yesterday's
legislative elections is that the new election laws...
will pose serious problems for governance.

"... The country is divided in two and this was
reflected in the outcome of Sunday's election. But,
also, the one who becomes the new PM will not only
have to confront his allied partners, who will want
their own space, but will have to face a very serious
economic situation.

"With practically no growth achieved during recent
years, a gigantic public debt, declining
competitiveness and productivity, Italy is considered
Europe's 'ailing country'.

"It is clear that, regardless of election promises,
whoever takes the country's reins, will have to
implement structural and unpopular reforms requiring
not only congressional majority but a consensus of
public opinion. And, under these circumstances,
governance does not seem easy."

- "The US warns Hugo Chavez"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (04/11)
"The USG warned Venezuela that there could be 'serious
diplomatic consequences' between the two countries if
harassment and attacks against US Ambassador to
Caracas William Brownfield persist.

"During a press conference, the USG spokesperson, Sean
McCormack, said 'The Venezuelan government should act
according to its duties under the Vienna Convention
and help provide protection to our diplomats.'

"... McCormack added that 'the Venezuelan ambassador
to Washington's ability to move within the US could be
seriously limited.'"

- "Ecuador, further from an FTA with the US"

Business-financial, center-right "InfoBae," reports
(04/11) "Ecuadorian Foreign Trade Minister Jorge
Illingworth acknowledged that the amendment to the
Hydrocarbon Act and a possible judicial ruling against
the US corporation Occidental (Oxy) could complicate
the scenario for a US-Ecuadorian FTA.

"... In this framework, Illingworth acknowledged that
the two cases could hinder the negotiation of an FTA,
which began in 2004 and is in its final stage."

- "Miceli will meet with the IMF and US Treasury
Department authorities"

Juan Cerruti, columnist of business-financial "El
Cronista," writes (04/11) "Economy Minister Felisa
Miceli will make her most important tour since she
took over. She will visit Washington April 20 to
participate in the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings.

"She will meet with IMF head Rodrigo Rato, US Treasury
Secretary John Snow and World Bank head, Paul

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Wolfowitz. These three are the most powerful
representatives of the world's financial scenario.

"During the Spring Meetings, Miceli will insist on the
need to recast the IMF's role and that of
international lending institutions to bring them
closer to the real needs of emerging market countries.



She will ask for loans for the productive sectors of
countries and will also ask authorities to put an end
to macroeconomic conditionality imposed by
multinational lending agencies."

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
LLORENS