MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, A/H1N1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001417 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, HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, A/H1N1 VIRUS -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. NORTH KOREA a. "North Korea launches two missiles to fight against the Security Council" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/27): "The U.N Security Council has expressed its severe opposition and criticism about North Korea's nuclear test. However, North Korea responded with two short-range missiles. The situation in the Korean Peninsula has quickly intensified. Western media are treating North Korea's nuclear test as a provocation. However, the military strike and economic sanctions will not have a satisfactory result. North Korea is economically isolated from the West. Chinese experts indicate that it is not in China's interest to let the Peninsula fall into violence. However, it is impractical to expect China to solve the North Korean conflict on its own. Shortly after North Korea's nuclear test, the visiting U.S. Speaker of the House, Pelosi who was in Shanghai at that time, called for China to bring Pyongyang back into the negotiation. There were similar calls from western media outlets too. China is facing increasing pressure. Western opinions suggest that the lack of western resolution concerning this issue is due to North Korea's small dependence on the world economy. In fact, North Korea has not gained the west's, especially the U.S.', acceptance and attention. After Obama took office, the U.S. has not taken any necessary actions. The only action they have taken can be described as 'kind ignorance.' By asking China to solve the issue, Western countries have misled the issue." b. "North Korea's nuclear test shows the complicated situation surrounding China" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/27): "Due to historical and geopolitical relationships, relations between China and its neighbors are very complicated. The North Korean nuclear test is only one among all these very thorny issues. China's strength largely depends on the stability in the neighborhood. China's stability mostly depends upon the resolution of some sensitive issues. How to adopt an appropriate stance concerning relations with neighboring countries and how to resolve the coming issues is an urgent challenge for China's peaceful development. China has advocated peaceful development, but it doesn't mean that China will always avoid conflicts in order to maintain peace. Better resolving these issues challenge China's political wisdom concerning China, and concerning the further understanding of China's peaceful development. It is a challenge for Asia and the whole world." ¶2. HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE "The U.S. and Europe exaggerate the refugee situation in South Asia" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(05/27): "China and India recently supported Sri Lanka during the U.N. Human Rights council meeting. This move reflects the divergences between Asia and Europe concerning the Sri Lankan issue. Recently the human rights conflict has escalated because of the U.S. and other European countries. Since Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Burma are located so closely to China, the West's criticism of these countries' human rights issues will likely include China. The west has asked China to pressure these Asian countries. The human rights conflict between China and the U.S. has left China's borders and has become more complicated. Chinese experts indicate that the refugee issue surfaced; however, it is not the core of the South Asian issues, but a side effect in the process of removing insecurities in South Asia. The west should pay attention to the major issues. European countries' criticisms on Asian countries' human rights issues have always existed. However, Asian countries have special reasons and backgrounds for their human rights conditions. On these issues, China advocates conciliation and negotiation instead of interfering in internal affairs." ¶3. A/H1N1 VIRUS "The fight between flu prevention methods and global capital" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(05/27): "Concerning H1N1 virus prevention, China has been very successful. Given China's concentrated population and frequent human exchanges with the U.S. and Canada, China's strict prevention measures have been effective. China deserves the compliments of the world. However, instead, some western media has criticized China's over-reaction. People's support is money and BEIJING 00001417 002 OF 002 resources. Japan also refused to allow the WHO to list Japan at the same level of disease-hit area as the U.S. Japan fears that it will influence Japan's exports and the inflow of capital. It is noted that the American media seldom discusses its own flu situation. The countries that are happy to see capital flowing into China will be put out if China is not effective in preventing the virus. Therefore, the A/H1N1 prevention efforts, this time, are not just a public health issue. In a broader sense, they are more like a fight for global economic resources and flowing capital. Public opinion has just been used as a tool pushing for that goal. Thus, the theory that 'China used excessively strict prevention measures'is in fact a plot against China." PICCUTA