TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA

UNCLAS TOKYO 001325 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers gave top play to the massive damaged caused by Monday's earthquake in central China. ¶2. "Earthquake Hits Ethnic Minorities Hard" The liberal Mainichi wrote (5/14): "Monday's earthquake is a serious political disaster for the Hu administration, as it directly hit a 'politically sensitive' area where a large number of impoverished Tibetans live and as it came at a very 'delicate time' when China needs to tamp down the commotion associated with the unrest in Tibet ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Mishandling the quake response would make the Hu administration susceptible to criticism of its policy toward ethnic minorities. The Chinese leadership appears to be concentrating on rescue work out of fear that the quake was viewed as a 'man-made' disaster." ¶3. "Another Challenge for Hu Leadership" The liberal Asahi's Beijing correspondent reported (5/14): "There is no question that the earthquake, following the unrest in Tibet, dealt a heavy political blow to the Beijing leadership. Politically-sensitive areas were hit hard by the tremor, which has commanded intense global attention. President Hu and other Chinese leaders must be of the view that social unrest from the quake ahead of the Olympics must be minimized at all cost.... The Chinese media has failed to provide live audio of the victims out of concern that viewers would find it troubling to hear the sufferers complaining about the government's response. It seems that the Chinese government's stance of giving top priority to state stability through media control has not changed." ¶4. "China Playing up 'Opening'" A Beijing-based reporter for the liberal Tokyo Shimbun asserted (5/14): "By expressing understanding for foreign media's interest in on-the-field coverage of the devastated area, Beijing appears to be calling for global attention to an 'opened China' so that its stance can be compared to that of Burma, which has been steadfast in rejecting foreign offers for humanitarian assistance for cyclone victims." DONOVAN