MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS, CHINA

UNCLAS BEIJING 001221 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 MILITARY RELATIONS, CHINA THREAT -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS "U.S. and China deal with naval confrontation in the Yellow Sea quietly" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/07): "Yesterday, the U.S. media reported the confrontation between the U.S. and China in the Yellow Sea. However, they didn't mention the American ship's military goal and potential threat to China. The article described the U.S. as the victim. Since 2001, U.S.-China relations have tightened because the U.S. continues to approach China to conduct illegal inspections. 96% of Chinese netizens have expressed their support that the behavior of the Chinese fishermen, they drove away the American investigation ship, was appropriate. The Chinese request that the Americans adopt measures that avoid having similar occurrences in the future. Chinese experts pointed out that the surveillance activities of the American ship in the coastal areas of Eastern China, Southern China and Nansha archipelago have become more frequent in recent years. However, Chinese scholars do not understand why as of yet. It is possible that it was the private behavior of the Chinese fishermen; they might worry that the actions of the American survey ship may destroy oceanic resources. The intentional exaggeration by the U.S., which made the world think that their reaction was an organized behavior by China, indicates that the Americans either don't know about the situation, or hold ulterior motives. These things will continue to happen. The U.S. military's steps do not match the U.S. government's steps. Sometimes, they compete with each other on policies. Historically, spying by the U.S. on other countries has encountered opposition." ¶2. CHINA THREAT "American and Japanese senior officials should watch their mouths" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/07): "Mike Mullen, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff has publicly claimed that China's increased Navy and Air force military strength is focused on the U.S. At the same time, the Japanese Prime Minister expressed that he thought the recent activities by China and North Korea have threatened Asia's security. Currently, U.S. and Japanese opinions concerning China are complicated and extreme. The exaggerated comments about China by these two men will surely bring negativity to the U.S. and Japanese relationship with China. It sends the wrong signals to China and the world. It will disturb the U.S. and Japanese strategies on China and also influence the Chinese military's correct and objective conclusion on the policies of the U.S. and Japan. Without calm judgment and a broad overview of the situation by senior leaders, the whole world will be impacted. As a country's senior official, one should restrain his own opinion and not mix it with policies. They should better watch their mouths, especially while in the public eye, and not express comments that are opposite their countries' established policies. China should ask for clarification and Mullen and Taro Aso should take responsibility." PICCUTA