MEDIA REACTION: A (H1-N1),Geithner visit,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001391 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: A (H1-N1),Geithner visit, Ambassador-Designate Huntsman -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. A (H1-N1) "America's loose disease control measures arouses global argument" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/22): Quite a number of H1N1 cases have been exported from America. Some developing countries, where there are few confirmed H1N1 cases, are very "nervous" about the H1N1 virus and implemented strict disease prevention measures, while America - which has over 90% of the total confirmed H1N1 cases in the world - seems not care about this virus at all. The rapid increase of confirmed cases worries the public in developing countries. However, some American media and American people do not care so much about the fast spread of the virus. Professor Shen Dingli, standing vice director for Institute of International Studies in Fudan University, explains that currently the flu can be prevented, and is under control and curable. The death rate of such virus is low in America, which is a developed country. Therefore, Shen thinks that it is reasonable that the U.S. has adopted relatively loose controls against this epidemic flu. But many countries are not pleased with America's way of controlling the flu and America becoming the source country of the newly confirmed cases in other countries. They appeal to America to strengthen its protection against the flu. A Chinese expert Geng Xin, living in Japan, says to Global Times that under the globalization, it is requested for each country to be responsible for not only one's own country but also other countries in the world. America used to require China to be a responsible power. They should do the same. America should at least not become an exporter of disease, like they exported the financial crisis. Geng Xin also thinks that developed countries have stronger capacity than developing countries do. Therefore, the developed countries should bear more responsibilities. The U.S. should at least strengthen the control in its border posts and at the airports, which is good to both America and other countries. ¶2. Geithner visit "Before his visit to China, Geithner reiterates America's refusal to consider China a currency manipulator - Financing of U.S. Banks show �A;improvement, 19 banks have raised $50 billion" The Shanghai-based Shanghai Media Group (SMG) publication, China Business News (Diyi Caijing) (05/22): The pressure on Geithner in Congressional hearings has been released a little. It is estimated that the banks who received government financial help will pay back $25 billion, which gives a little extra money for Geithner's next rescue. Geithner said the U.S. economy has shown some encouraging signs. The Obama administration has made some progress in stabilizing the financial markets. But there are also some negative voices from the Democrats and Republicans against Geithner's comments on America's economic development. Geithner also said China has allowed the RMB to substantially appreciate and the Chinese government has decreased its involvement in the exchange rate. The interesting point is that this January, some economists, including Geithner, were criticizing China's intentionally keeping the RMB low to make its exports cheaper, which damaged the American manufacturing industry and caused the rise in unemployment. But Obama's administration softened its tone toward China in the Treasury Department's report in the first half of this year, and did not say China manipulates exchanging rates. Geithner will pay his first visit to China on June 1 and 2. ¶3. Ambassador-Designate Huntsman "The destiny with China of the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to China" The official China Communist Youth League Beijing Committee publications, Beijing Youth Daily(Beijing Qingnianbao) (05/22): Cheng Tieliang, a journalist of Beijing Youth Daily, accidentally interviewed Huntsman nine years ago in U.S. when he saw Huntsman and his Chinese daughter in a church. Huntsman kindly accepted his interview request and invited him to his house. From that interview, we learned that Huntsman taught his daughter Chinese and hoped his daughter could become a U.S. Ambassador to China. He often took his daughter with him to the orphanage. He also liked traditional Sichuan and Shangdong food. Analysis on how Huntsman will affect the future of U.S.-China relations: Zhang Guoqing, an expert on American issues, says that he anticipates that there will be an Ambassador who understands China well and has rich diplomatic experiences. On the other hand, since U.S.-China relations involve many aspects, and there are many BEIJING 00001391 002 OF 002 elements will affect its development, U.S.-China relations need not only the efforts from the Ambassador, but also the caring from the leaders of the two countries of various levels. Professor Zhu from Peking University also says that U.S.-China relations are complicated and the development of relations does not only rely on the personal belief of an Ambassador. The Ambassor's influence to the policy making is indirect. It is not easy to evaluate the work performance of an Ambassador. We can only judge his performance until he finishes his term in China. How does U.S. select its Ambassador to China: Professor Zhu from Peking University thinks that the Ambassador selected by Obama needs to play three roles. First, he is good at communicating with people. He will effectively deliver the voices from China to the President, Congress, as well as the American public. He will convey a controversial topic and explain why the policy is important and reasonable. Second, he needs to become a message carrier. The U.S. Ambassador is the first one to handle the U.S.-China relations in many fields among the enormous fields involved in the U.S.-China relations. Whether he can directly deliver the messages to the President and whether he has special political relations with the President are the major concerns when appointing the Ambassador. Third, he has to be a supporter of President Obama. Professor Zhu says that Huntsman has three advantages to be selected as the U.S. Ambassador to China. First, he is one of the Republicans who expressed support for Obama. He has built up a relationship of political trust with Obama. Second, he knows China and has his network of relationships dealing with Chinese issues. He can show his Chinese experiences to the Congress and American public. Third, he has obtained rich diplomatic and domestic political experience. Professor Zhang Guoqing from Chinese Academy of Social Science also says that it is the key for U.S. to enhance the cooperation between the two Parties when it is facing a series of internal and external challenges. "Obama is showing the signal of cooperation by appointing some Republicans, which is also reflecting his big heart and confidence in politics," says Zhang. WEINSTEIN