MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. POLICY, A/H1N1

UNCLAS BEIJING 001376

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, U.S. POLICY, A/H1N1

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

"Hacking military computers 'not a hack job'"

The official English-language newspaper China Daily (05/21): "There
is no way hackers - including those from China - can access
top-secret data by penetrating the firewalls of military or
government networks. The US military is picking on China because it
wants to make its claims appear more plausible. The Former Director
of [China's] National Computer Network Emergency Response Team said
that there is no scientific basis to blame either China's military
or the government for hacking other nations' networks because most
of them are "out of reach." The foreign media, quoting insiders in
overseas intelligence services, have recently claimed that hackers,
who appeared to be based in China, had repeatedly infiltrated
military networks and government computers in more than 100
countries. "If there had been cases of key intelligence being
stolen, I believe there would have been undercover agents within the
organizations facilitating the theft. You cannot simply do it with
computer technology," he said."


2. U.S. POLICY

"Stop the duplicity and give China a break"

The official English-language newspaper China Daily (05/21): "The
term "group of two" or (G2, that is, the U.S. and China) is the
subject of debate because the two countries have the greatest
influence on international affairs, and have the ability to help the
world emerge out of the economic crisis. But the aspects that
deserve greater attention are the responsibility the two countries
show in facing global threats, presenting ideals, and leading the
rest of the world pursuing those ideals. What Obama means by a
nuclear-free world is a peaceful and safe world. Hu's goal is clear:
long term peace and common prosperity. To realize their goals, the
two countries have to communicate and cooperate to the maximum
level, for if they fail to do so, their ideas will prove to be
utopian. We need mutual respect, have to treat each other as
equals, and respect the right of a nation to choose its social
system and development mode. In short, countries should be
"harmonious but different".


3. A/H1N1

"Transparency key to anti-virus battle"

Global Times English (English-language daily published by the
People's Daily) (05/21): "According to foreign reports, under
pressure from Japan, Britain, China and other nations, the World
Health Organization (WHO) decided not to raise the alert level from
the current phase 5 to phase 6, which would mean a global outbreak
is " imminent. " One of our reporters contacted China's Ministry of
Health hoping to confirm the story but was rebuffed by an official.
Why aren't official departments more open on releasing this
information? Why can't the Chinese people learn critical
information from the Chinese media? Why must Chinese media receive
such information from the foreign media rather than from our own
government? But as efforts to contain the virus drag on, Chinese
people need more details, both about domestic and international
developments. Providing a greater level of transparency on
information critical to the welfare of citizens goes a long way in
building social stability and mutual trust between governments and
the people in any country. In China, we need such mutual trust to
help us overcome the H1N1 virus."

WEINSTEIN