MEDIA REACTION: U.S. DIPLOMACY, TAIWAN, CHINA'S RISE

UNCLAS BEIJING 004324 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, TAIWAN, CHINA'S RISE -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S. DIPLOMACY "Obama is not focused on China" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/25): "An American expert has said that in the U.S., China studies programs are far less emphasized than studies concerning Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. This reflects China's position in the strategic blueprints of the U.S. It also reflects the different feelings of the two countries. Each country has different opinions, stances, and angles concerning important topics. For example, when the Chinese media is concerned about Obama's policy on China, public opinions in the U.S. are concerned with who will be the next secretary of the treasury. What's more, in the U.S. diplomatic system there is no specific China policy team. China is just a part of Eastern Asian or Asia-Pacific affairs. It is not possible, and not necessary, to make China the focus of the new U.S. administration. After all, China is not the ally of the U.S. and does not have common views with the U.S." ¶2. TAIWAN "The U.S. blackmails Taiwan with 'patriot' missile" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/25): "It was reported last week that the U.S. had requested additional conditional support for the 6 billion USD arm sale to Taiwan. Taiwan opinioned that: the most expensive thing in the World is U.S. weapon sales. However, more and more Taiwanese analysts indicate that the relations across the Strait are warming up since Ma Ying-jeou became president. The possibility of a cross-strait military conflict has greatly decreased. The Taiwanese 'legislative department' has strongly reacted to the increased of price by the U.S. Arms sales Taiwan are the strangest arms sales in the world. There is a debate about whether or not Ma Ying-jeou should continue these 'arms purchasing at a sucker's price' at Chen Shui-bian time. Mainland experts indicate that the status of the cross-strait military confrontation will not change. The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will not stop, the U.S. will continue using Taiwan to contain the Mainland." ¶3. CHINA'S RISE "China cautiously faces glory in the international community" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/25): "China has quickly been given glory in the international community because of its participation in two big international conferences, the G20 Summit and APEC. The Chinese government responded to this phenomenon modestly. China repeatedly emphasized that theirs is a developing country. Western media opined that China has behaved cautiously because China wants to play an important role in the financial crisis. Chinese experts indicate that China's economic strength has been exaggerated by the World, and that the degree of China's opening up has been underestimated. Chinese experts also indicate that China has reasons to maintain a low-profile and be cautious. Although China develops fast, the western part of China and the large area of countryside are still under developed. Besides this, China is also engaged with many serious issues brought on by the financial crisis. China's cautious style in the face of this glory is also based on China's traditional culture. Chinese culture emphasizes the 'middle of the road', 'moderation' and 'peace.'" RANDT