MEDIA REACTION: ADMIRAL ROUGHEAD'S VISIT TO CHINA,

UNCLAS BEIJING 001044

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 PREL ECON

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ADMIRAL ROUGHEAD'S VISIT TO CHINA,
U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONS, BOOK: UNHAPPY CHINA

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Editorial Quotes
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1. ADMIRAL ROUGHEAD'S VISIT TO CHINA

a. "The U.S. fears China's anti-warship capabilities"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(04/20): "A former
U.S. chief of naval operations once mentioned that China's research
into an anti-warship ballistic missile is the largest concern for
the U.S. in recent years. During the anniversary celebration of the
Chinese navy, the U.S. has begun to comment on China's military
threat. In these conversations, China's anti-warship capabilities
have become a hot topic. It is an old topic. The U.S.' '2008 report
on China's military strength' stated that China has possessed
ballistic missiles capable of attacking American aircraft carriers.
The report in 2009 once again mentioned this issue. The U.S.
military has upgraded this concern of from 'tactic level' to
'strategic level'. The U.S. aircraft carrier and combat troops
possess the 'absolute command over the sea.' However, concerning
ballistic missiles, the U.S. navy does not yet have the ability of a
counter attack. This is, in fact, a weakness of the U.S. navy.
What's more, by emphasizing the threat from the Chinese navy, the
U.S. navy can obtain more funding and, at the same time, ensure the
U.S. navy's dominant' position."

b. "The world focuses on China's naval operations; warships from
fourteen countries gather in Qingdao; the U.S. closely observes the
Chinese navy"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/20): "U.S. Chief of naval operations,
Admiral Roughead, held a press conference yesterday at the U.S.
Embassy in BeijingQe mildly expressed that the U.S. destroyer
attending the celebrations is one of the most advanced destroyers
available. Possessing an aircraft carrier is an ambition of the
Chinese navy. The U.S. will not change their strategy accordingly.
The U.S. is more concerned with how China will use their aircraft
carrier and what their end-goal in acquiring the ship is. Chinese
experts believe there is a big difference between westerners and
Chinese people concerning the Chinese navy. Western countries worry
that the rising of the Chinese navy will threaten them. Both the
Western countries and China have two different value systems when it
comes to oceanic affairs. Different from China's ethic thinking,
western countries believe in interests and benefits. The troop
viewing will manifest China's peaceful and harmonious might. It also
shows China's confidence and openness."


2. U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONS

"China sues American law # 727 in the WTO; Poultry ban"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/20): "Chinese experts suggest that at the
very beginning, the U.S. and China reached an agreement that the
U.S. and China would be equals in exporting poultry to the world.
However, the U.S. has betrayed the rules in this game. This is
typical trade protectionist behavior. In fact, the exported poultry
meat by China did not have any problems. China is fighting this
trade protectionist behavior by appealing to the WTO. In the current
backdrop of the financial crisis, the U.S. law #727 will definitely
cause a chain reaction; other industries may imitate it, and it
provides a negative example. However, the effect on China of law
NO. 727 is, in fact, limited. The dispute between the two is just an
independent case. It will not have a large impact."


3. BOOK: UNHAPPY CHINA

"With things unpleasant, can't we be unhappy?"

The official English-language newspaper China Daily (04/20): "The
ongoing debate over the book Unhappy China is as amusing and
controversial as the book itself. What is really intriguing is that
commentaries published in some influential Chinese newspapers seem
to dismiss the book as 'too extreme and nationalistic', but netizens
and scholars not associated with those publications have openly
supported these authors' views. That means that people who try to
gauge public opinion on an issue by reading those newspapers, or
people who assume that they mirror society's view in total, could be
misled. But if things constantly make us unhappy, I'm afraid
nationalism - irrespective of how 'dangerous' or 'poisoning' it may
sound to elitists' ears would require solid ground to prevail in
this town."

PICCUTA