MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, CHINESE BLOGGERS,

UNCLAS BEIJING 001092

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: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, CHINESE BLOGGERS,
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

a. "China should think more broadly than the west"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/23): "Some people believe that democracy
is a general value globally. However, this is a theoretical law.
Democracy is not a value. It is a political method that could be
used to express public choices. Democracy is an ancient invention.
However, the ancient philosophers opposed democracy because it can
easily lead to tyranny. Only during the Cold War did democracy
become a universal value and a political tactic. China's universal
value is closely related to the concept of 'land under sky.' China
believes that the world is one big family. China believes that there
is a way for all countries to cooperate harmoniously. China also
believes that there is a way for various nations and cultures to
coexist in the 'land under sky' philosophy. Instead of criticizing
the west, China should pay more attention to how it can improve
itself, perhaps imitating the west by combining all its positive
values.

b. "The U.S. prints a ridiculous advertisement attacking China"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/23): "The Washington Post recently printed
an advertisement that portrays China as a credit card. The
advertiser intended to show that today, Americans have to depend on
China's charity to stay afloat. Chinese experts say that this
shows that the Americans feel lost in the financial crisis. This is
an odd way for the U.S. to criticize China. This is an action by
certain American Interest groups. Although it isn't the government's
stance, this ad will put pressure on Obama's China policy. Because
China is the largest creditor for the U.S., Americans like to
compare themselves to the Chinese. The U.S. worries that China will
catch-up with America's progress. Chinese analysts indicate that the
direct cause of an advertisement like this is that not all classes
in the U.S. benefit from the U.S.-China economic relationship. The
sponsors of the advertisement, the American Business and Industry
Committee, represent the small and medium sized American
manufacturing enterprises. Their goal was to urge the U.S.
government to change the situation in America."


2. CHINESE BLOGGERS

"Critical bloggers [arrested] on defamation charges"

The official English-language newspaper China Daily (04/23): "A
Sichuan man who described local officials as 'scum of the nations'
is among two Chinese citizens before the courts charged with
defaming government officials. The man was initially jailed for one
year for another 'defaming' post, and is now serving a sentence of
two years for his most recent 'defaming' posts."


3. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

"Poison to quench thirst"

The official English-language newspaper China Daily (04/23): "It is
absurd and unimaginable for the provincial environmental protection
department to keep the names of polluting enterprises a secret at a
meeting on pollution control. What they have done is against the
regulations on discloser of government information that took effect
last May. Confidentiality is by no means the reason. Suggested
reasons include; the polluting firms may be contributing to local
finance revenue or the firms may have bribed the environmental
watchdog."

PICCUTA