TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CHINA - ATTACK IN

UNCLAS TOKYO 002136 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 - CHINA - ATTACK IN KASHGAR ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning included a Xinhua report saying that Chinese security police received intelligence that the East Turkistan Islamic Movement was planning terrorist attacks in the week before the Olympics ahead of the attack in Kashgar on Monday. ¶2. "Concern about Terrorism Ahead of Olympics" The liberal Mainichi's correspondent report from Beijing said (8/5): "The terrorist attack in Kashgar on Monday dealt a severe blow to the government of President Hu Jintao.... Although the Chinese government wants the Olympics to be a symbol of reconstruction after the major earthquake in Sichuan, the fight against terrorism has become an important element that will determine the success of the Olympics." ¶3. "Tension Mounting in Beijing" The moderate Yomiuri ran a correspondent report from Beijing (8/5): "A terrorist attack targeting police officers took place in Xinjiang, China. Beijing is on the highest alert in the week before the Olympics. In addition to terrorism, public anger and democracy and patriotic rallies had already been the targets of vigilance. The Chinese Communist Party, which finds itself under siege, will have to walk a tightrope as it prepares to host the Olympics." ¶4. "Shadow Hanging over Olympics" The business-oriented Nikkei wrote (8/5): "The attack in Kashgar will likely cast a shadow over the Olympics, which open on Friday. The incident was a great blow to the Hu government, which failed to prevent it despite its earlier acquisition of intelligence pointing to a possible terrorist attack. Although Chinese authorities plan to step up security, they will face a crucial test, as it will be difficult to completely prevent such attacks." ¶5. "Ethnic Conflict Becoming Radical" The conservative Sankei wrote (8/5): "Monday's attack in Kashgar appears to have been carried out by an ethnic Uygur group seeking independence, a group that Chinese authorities deemed 'the greatest threat to the Olympics.' The attack appears to have been aimed at drawing international attention to the ethnic conflict in the Uyghur area following unrest in Tibet. Although the Chinese government has been taking maximum security measures, its goal of making the Olympics a success story of unity, friendship, and peace looks distant, as ethnic conflict in the nation is becoming increasingly radical." SCHIEFFER