MEDIA REACTION: XINJIANG RIOT, NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS BEIJING 001952

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: XINJIANG RIOT, NORTH KOREA

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Editorial Quotes
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1. XINJIANG RIOT

a. "By being extreme, western media loses China"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (07/10): "China is changing, but western
media's attitude towards China seems forever unchanged. When the
'7.5' incident happened, western media chose to support the other
side, opposing the Chinese people. Some did this out of confusion
while others did this because of vicious motives. In the last year
or so, China has made significant progress on the opening-up of its
information. Regretfully, the western media can't adapt to this new
change. Their reports are full of indiscriminate copies, and their
articles full of platitudes. They use a fixed set of molds to deal
with all the issues. They created their conclusions long ago, and
with each new incident they search for material to prove their
conclusions. This practice by Western media makes the Chinese
people, who know the truth, angry and scared. Similarly, it deepens
the Western public's misunderstanding or even hatred of China. They
do not know the truth. Prejudice is farther away from the truth than
ignorance; the Chinese people do not trust Western media because of
their prejudice."

b. "Why I no longer read the Wall Street Journal"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(07/10): "Starting today, I [Ding Gang, an
experienced media personality in Beijing] will no longer read the
Wall Street Journal. I will also ask all my friends and colleagues
not to read it. In the past 10 years, I was a faithful reader of
the Wall Street Journal. However, the paper's reports concerning
China over the years continuously disappointed me. Although their
reports and commentary on China in recent years carry a lot of
prejudice and ignorance, their financial news and commentary still
has its value. But this time, their reporting on the Xinjiang riots
has really gone too far. I cannot stand it; the paper publicly
stood at the side of the terrorists and become their advocate. They
call Uygur rioters "demonstrators" yet label Han people "thugs".
Maybe the editors at the Wall Street Journal can defend themselves
by saying they are simply being fair and impartial. I feel
humiliated after reading this. I can bear prejudice but never
humiliation. I will not debate or argue with the Wall Street
Journal, the advocate for terrorism, I will just give up reading it.
To me, it is out of sight and out of mind. From today on, I will
say "thank you" to any Chinese person who neither reads nor writes
for Wall Street Journal. "


2. NORTH KOREA

"South Korea wants to set up a cyber war command office to fight
against North Korea"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (07/10): "South Korean intelligence agencies
and media accuse North Korea and its supporters of North Korea of
being attackers. Some people claim that it is the Chinese hackers
who usually use this kind of attack method. This presumption is
questioned by many experts and media. They hold that currently,
there is no evidence to prove this point of view. Chinese experts
indicate that setting up a cyber war command office is a pre-decided
thing. However, South Korea should not use North Korea or China as
an excuse. It is ridiculous that South Korea and other western
countries, when developing their own military strength, look to
China or North Korea as their supposed target."

GOLDBERG