MEDIA REACTION: U.S. DIPLOMACY

UNCLAS BEIJING 004278 DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. DIPLOMACY -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- U.S. DIPLOMACY a. "Bush becomes the scapegoat of the U.S." The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/20): "A new Hollywood film, 'W', has recently been shown in the U.S. It is the story of President Bush. Some people are saying that no one could have been a worse president than Bush. However, others disagree. Many Americans defend Bush, suggesting that the current difficulties in the U.S. are the necessary result of the U.S.'s behavior globally promoting American ideology and hegemony. Bush simply happened to become the person who will take the blame for the U.S.'s decline. A Chinese expert on international affairs, Charles Freeman indicated that in fact it is not fair to give all the blame to the President. Although the U.S. implies separation of powers, it advocates individual heroism. The U.S. president has a big influence on domestic and foreign affairs. Therefore he takes the most blame. In fact, the U.S.-China relationship can be counted as one of Bush's successes during his post. Bush has brought forth the 'stakeholder' concept in China. Another important legacy of Bush is that he has ensured an open market and a free trade, globalizing the U.S." b. "Moral superiority harms the U.S." The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/20): "Obama's victory in the election has re-united the American people, and given them hope, strengthening their moral superiority. Some experts think that the U.S. soft power will resume because of Obama's mild diplomatic style. However, American's moral superiority has not disappeared. On the contrary it has been strengthened. The U.S. is telling the World that 'see, we have elected an African American president. Which one of you is able to achieve this?' The greedy nature of capitalism, the need for the expansion of national interests and the impulse to spread the religion of Jesus has made the U.S. accustomed to treating other countries like pupils. This habit brings the U.S. three flaws: first, the U.S. is the only judge capable of judging right and wrong. Second, the U.S. steps from judging right and wrong to hegemonic expansion. Third, the U.S. is trapped in a weird circle of 'defensive expansion'; the more resistance it encounters from other countries, the more unsafe the U.S. feels. ...Actually the most important change that the U.S. needs to make is to walk away from moral superiority and learn to get along with the World, modestly and equally." RANDT