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

UNCLAS BEIJING 001546 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 -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS a. "U.S. needs China vs. China needs the U.S." The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao) (06/09): "U.S. officials and economic personnel have frequently visited China. They all have similar attitudes concerning avoiding aggression and using caution surrounding sensitive topics. Their frequent visits indicate that the U.S.-China relationship is changing. The U.S. is changing their old style whereby the U.S. pressures and China reacts. The U.S. economy's reliance on China far exceeds China's demand on the U.S. China is the only existing large-scale import market that is still growing. It holds the most foreign exchange reserves and is also the largest economic body. Having good economic relations with China has the lowest opportunity cost and the largest potential interest. In 2009, it is very important to the U.S. that the Chinese economy is maintained as it is a huge market for the U.S. Because China purchased a large amount of American bonds, if the U.S. financially collapses, China will be influenced. However, the reliance between the two countries is unbalanced. If this happens, China only loses USD $1 trillion in assets, but the U.S. loses its financial hegemony which it has worked for over the last 60 years. Because of this situation, it is beneficial for China to deal with the U.S.-China relationship in a better and more appropriate way." b. "The U.S. claims that its sensitive technologies have been leaked to China" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(06/08): "A Chinese Military Expert has said that the so-called sensitive technologies are very funny because it really isn't sensitive. China received the guided missile technology long ago. Today, some of China's technologies are even more advanced than the U.S. China does not have to spy on other people's technology. Certain U.S. departments, different times, talk about China's technology theft and spying. Some departments have ulterior motives. When they want to make trouble they play their China card. Even if the sensitive technologies of the U.S. have been leaked, it can only prove that there is ineffective supervision of weapons technology in the U.S. According to the U.S. Justice Department, 43% of related cases have been suspected of involving China or Iran in illegally transferring weapons parts and technology." ¶2. NORTH KOREA "On the North Korean issue, it is not necessary for China to take the lead" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(06/09): "There is a surprising turn in the North Korean issue. The true nature of the North Korean nuclear issue is an issue between the U.S. and North Korea. The world seems to have turned it into an issue between China and North Korea on purpose. This insinuation changes the substance of the conflict and it is not beneficial for China. This shows that the western countries' perspective is to 'hit two birds with one stone' because they could hit China and North Korea at the same time. On this issue, China should avoid taking the lead. China doesn't need to take any international responsibility if it doesn't feel like it or is incapable of taking. China should not take the side of western countries and sanction North Korea. An all-around sanction on North Korea may arouse North Korea's hatred of China. If China pushes North Korea in order to compromise with the U.S., North Korea may turn on the west. A humanitarian crisis may occur if North Korea refuses to compromise. If this happens, the west will still criticize China. It is enough for China to try and persuade North Korea, telling the country that possessing nuclear weapons doesn't mean absolute security and doesn't lead to nuclear weapons development by its neighbor countries. The world is insecure about North Korea." PICCUTA