MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, NORTH KOREA, JUNE 4

UNCLAS BEIJING 001519 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: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, NORTH KOREA, JUNE 4 ANNIVERSARy -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS "The U.S. stimulates its economy, China needs to benefit as well" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(06/05): "Although the American economic stimulus plan limits U.S. government procurements to American-made products, the regulations also allow the U.S. to buy products from countries that are a part of the GPA agreement of the WTO. China has joined the GPA negotiations but is not yet a GPA member. At this time, the U.S. government has a legal basis not to purchase Chinese goods. China's 'government procurement law' has similar rules to purchase native goods. The amount of Chinese goods in the U.S. procurement market will not be influenced because, in the past, it has not been large. China should step up their negotiations with the GPA in order to enter the U.S. procurement market. However, China lacks the sense to purchase only native goods; instead the country tends to purchase foreign goods. If China were to also only purchase native goods, the U.S. would become more worried than China. The 'Illegal exclusion native goods' should be opposed in China and government procurement should instead emphasize purchasing native goods. China's endeavor to enter the GPA was inspired by Obama's 'buy American' bill. China needs to request that other countries are accepting of Chinese companies and their goods. This will allow Chinese goods a share in other countries' government procurement markets. China should use international law to compete for the interests of the Chinese economy." ¶2. NORTH KOREA "Are the U.S. and China opponents or friends on the North Korea nuclear issue?" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(06/05): "Recently some in the international society doubted China's role in the North Korean nuclear issue. These people even think that the U.S. and China could become opponents over the issue. However, the core conflict lies with the relationship between the U.S. and North Korea. North Korea's repeated mistrustful behavior has lost them the trust of the U.S. China is the only recognized go-between negotiator for the U.S. and North Korea. China is the necessary path to take if Washington wants to look for a communication point with North Korea. Since 2003, China's role as the host of the Six-Party Talks has been recognized by all parties. The talks have successfully resolved obstacles for U.S.-North Korea relations. There are now bilateral talks under a multilateral framework. Today, although there is noise concerning China, the U.S. and the North Korea issue, the two countries have common interests that bond them together. The U.S. and China can only be friends and can never be opponents. Otherwise the North Korea nuclear issue will not resolve and the peninsula will not be security." ¶3. JUNE 4 ANNIVERSARIES "Clinton's June 4 comments 'disregarded facts'" The official English-language newspaper China Daily (06/05): "China yesterday expressed deep dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks on the 20th anniversary of the events of June 4. "As to the political turmoil and problems that happened in the late 1980s, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have already made a clear conclusion," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press conference in response to a question about a statement released by Clinton on Wednesday. He said China had made great advances in economic and social development since the country began its reforms and opened up 30 years ago. Facts had proven that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics suited the national conditions of China. The remarks from the U.S. disregarded the facts and made random accusations against the Chinese government, Qin said, adding that Clinton's comments violated basic norms governing international relations and principles set forth in the three China-U.S. joint communiqus and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs. "We urge the U.S. to put aside its political prejudices and correct its wrong-doings so as to avoid interfering with and damaging Sino-U.S. relations," Qin said." PICCUTA