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

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HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR CH PREL ECON

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: A (H1-N1),Geithner visit,
Ambassador-Designate Huntsman

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Editorial Quotes
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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
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

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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.

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