Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING1395
2009-05-26 09:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, GEITHNER'S VISIT, PELOSI'S

Tags:  OPRC KMDR CH PREL ECON 
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R 260931Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001395 

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: NORTH KOREA, GEITHNER'S VISIT, PELOSI'S
VISIT

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Editorial Quotes
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001395

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: NORTH KOREA, GEITHNER'S VISIT, PELOSI'S
VISIT

--------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------


1. NORTH KOREA

"20 Chinese experts are polled on North Korean nuclear issue"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/26): "Qing Hua University professor Sun
Zhe believes, "North Korea's nuclear test is blackmail in nature.
North Korea took advantage of the current situation; the former
South Korean president had just committed suicide, the U.S.
Ambassador to Japan had just arrived at his post and there is a lack
of North Korean expertise, in order to further its strategic
advantages, in the Obama administration's team. In spite of the
military power and growth showcased by the nuclear test, the test
itself is not enough to threaten powerful countries. What's more,
military power alone cannot solve any global issues. North Korea's
behavior is disrespectful to the world. However, because the test
was conducted from inside North Korea, the U.S., China and the
international society can't take any countermeasures. China should
be aware that its North Korean policy should not continue unchanged.
China doesn't have a pre-established stance on possible sanctions
by the UN against North Korea. China will see who leads the voting
and look to what most countries' opinions are."

Shen Dingli of the international affairs institute of Fudan
University says, "North Korea's development of nuclear weapons is
also inevitable. North Korea's neighboring countries all have
nuclear weapons. Russia, China, even the U.S. has nuclear weapons
within the region; they provide nuclear protection to Japan and
South Korea. China doesn't support North Korea's developing nuclear
weapons but should not take their having nuclear weapons as an
obstacle to normal bilateral relations."

Ren Xiao who is also from Fudan University commented, "North Korea
is trying to upgrade its position in the negotiations. The test
symbolizes that its military, its strength, has risen." Ding Gang
of People's Daily said "Many people believe that North Korea's
nuclear test indicates the failure of the U.S.' nuclear policy.
However, this is not the case; the test is an obvious result of

America's connivance. How come after these years of the Six-Party
Talks, other parties have taken side roles and had to lay their hope
on the final resolution between North Korea and the U.S.? Resolving
the North Korea issue, a legacy of the Cold War, still depends on
the U.S.""


2. GEITHNER'S VISIT

"Does Geithner's visit to China give up their 'complaint
diplomacy'?"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(05/25): "The
attitude of Geithner, who will visit China, deserves our attention.
At a Senate hearing Geithner defended the decision by the U.S. not
to label China as a 'currency manipulator'. He stated that China's
exchange rate policy, over the last few years, has obviously
changed. It seems that this proves what the experts predicted, that
Geithner's attitude during his trip to China would be moderate.
During the visits of previous American Treasury Secretaries, they
always complained about the RMB exchange rate, the large trade
deficit and the IPR issue. They liked to pressure China. However
the international situation has changed. It seems inappropriate for
Geithner to continue the 'compliant diplomacy' of the U.S. Chinese
analysts also indicate that Geithner is coming to China with a goal
in mind. He may want to learn about why China always has been able
to realize its economic growth goals; he may want to learn from
China. Looking at the current situation, enhancing U.S.-China
economic coordination and better dealing with the financial crisis
will be the most important task of Geithner's visit to Beijing."


3. PELOSI'S VISIT

"U.S. senior officials pay a collective visit to China this week"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/25): "The leader of the American House of
Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has arrived in China for a week of
visits with Chinese officials. A week of American visits has begun.
After Pelosi there will be the U.S. envoy to the Sudan, Secretary of
Treasury Geithner and the U.S.-China Working Group Delegations.
Chinese experts suggest that these visits show that the U.S. needs
China's help in more and more issues. This old-China policy needs
to change. The Obama administration is making efforts to set the
tone for the new U.S.-new-China policy. The U.S. and China will
conduct direct dialogues on climate change, the Sudan issue and the

BEIJING 00001395 002 OF 002


economic crisis. The intensity of the U.S. officials' visit to
China is higher than their visit to any other one of China's allies.
The visit fully manifests the numerous conversations that the U.S.
needs to have with China. In recent years, the most severe
criticism by the U.S. against China has come from the Congress.
However, at a press conference recently, Pelosi refused to answer a
question concerning China's human rights issue. This is the second
time that a U.S. official has intentionally spoken about the issue
in a casual way. It looks like Washington hopes to speak with China
in a moderate way given the difficulties of the financial crisis.
The U.S., by sending both its most pro-and anti-China officials, is
obviously stepping up its study of China. The intensity of the
visits by U.S. officials to China clearly conveys the message that
'the U.S. needs China.'"

PICCUTA