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

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Editorial Quotes
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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

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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