MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS, BRIC SUMMIT,

UNCLAS BEIJING 001659 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 MILITARY RELATIONS, BRIC SUMMIT, IRAN -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS "U.S. and China need to regulate their behavior in the South China Sea" The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao) (06/18): "Technically speaking, the 'intimate contact' between the U.S. destroyer's sonar and a Chinese submarine has posed a severe threat to the underwater travel of Chinese submarines. To a certain extent it shows the increase in the frequency of activity by the U.S. and Chinese navy. In recent years the U.S. and Chinese navies have only made a small step forward. How to set up and improve communication and coordination and build trust on the sea within the international legal framework is still a long-term issue both countries need to face and resolve. If the U.S. doesn't give up arms sales to Taiwan and besiegement strategy on China, the courtesy mutual military ship's visit and sea rescue drill will still have limited role in improving U.S.-China mutual trust and avoiding frictions. As a powerful country outside the South China Sea region, to protect the regional peace and stability, the U.S. needs to abide by international law and China's law, ceasing illegal military exploration activities at China's water territory." ¶2. BRIC SUMMIT "BRIC countries plan the new blueprint of the multilateral world" The Shanghai-based Shanghai Media Group (SMG) publication, China Business News (Diyi Caijing)(06/18): "Although the meeting has not achieved the results people expected, it already directly challenged the traditional international order. The joint statement issued after the meeting expressed the intention of the emerging economies to adjust the world pattern. Another expert from the Chinese International Issues Research Foundation said the multilateral cooperation the U.S. is pursuing is not complete multilateralism, it is selective. He also said the BRIC countries will have more say on pursuing the multilateral world. Another expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Science said Obama has been forced by reality to adjust American diplomatic policy and the financial crisis will likely be a turning point. A Chinese expert from Renmin University said that the four countries have two things in common: all are newly-emerging economies and all are big countries. However, they also have great divergences in many aspects. He also commented that as a new model of multilateral international order if the BRIC meeting can be held every year regularly undoubtedly it will increase the voice of BRIC countries in international negotiations. He thinks the BRIC meeting will be institutionalized but he does not think the BRIC countries will form an alliance." ¶3. IRAN "Rarely seen chaos tests Iran's power" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(06/18): "Whether or not this rarely seen chaos can be finally pacified will become an important test of Iran's political system. The collision of religion and democracy in Iran may even influence the whole Middle-East situation. The Obama administration is wisely chosen to watch in a cautious manner because Obama knows clearly that once the U.S. steps in conflicts among Iranian parties will become a conflict between the pro and anti-U.S. camps. Anti-U.S. sentiment will be aroused and will not be good for Iran's reform group. Another Chinese expert also commented that the chaos is internal systematic chaos. It will last and will not cause a new revolution. Iran will not change 'color.' The election result shows that Iran's tough conservative leadership does not change. The marginalized reform group has developed from dissatisfaction to indignation, causing chaos. The chaos is also directly related to Ahmadinejad. His four-years in office has caused social separation in Iran." PICCUTA