MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA, CHINA-RUSSIA MILITARY

UNCLAS BEIJING 002094

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, CHINA-RUSSIA MILITARY
EXCERCISE, ENVIRONMENT

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA

"Former U.S. Speaker of the House wants to use nuclear-armed Japan
to suppress China"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (07/22): "The former U.S. Speaker of the
House Newt Gingrich recently openly used a nuclear-armed Japan as a
bargaining chip to blackmail China, asking China to press North
Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons. Commenting on this, some
analysts said that the United States used the atomic bomb to bomb
Japan in World War II. It does not have the courage to give the
Japanese "retaliation" capabilities. After North Korea's nuclear
test, the voices for developing nuclear weapons in Japan have
increased domestically. This will certainly exacerbate the arms
race in East Asia and make the North Korean nuclear issue more
complicated. On the nuclear issue, the United States and Japan have
historical grievances; Japan's possession of nuclear weapons is not
in the interests of the United States. Now some people in the
United States want to put pressure on China by saying that Japan
should also possess nuclear weapons. This may encourage the people
in Japan who advocate for possession of nuclear weapons. China is
opposed to the North Korean nuclear test and supports the framework
of the United Nations sanctions against North Korea. But China does
not have the intention to dominate North Korea, nor does it have
such a capability."



2. CHINA-RUSSIA MILITARY EXCERCISE

"Sino-Russian joint military exercise is to counter terrorism; it is
not directed against a third party"

The official Communist Youth League newspaper China Youth Daily
(Zhongguo Qingnianbao) (07/22): "Some Western media are very
sensitive about the Sino-Russian joint military exercise. Some
Western media published articles, arguing that China and Russia will
form the core of a possible new military bloc and claiming that the
joint military exercise is a counter-offensive attack against the
United States. Sun Bo, the research fellow of China Institute of
Contemporary International Relations said that China's newly
established security concept is to focus on cooperation, not
confrontation, not targeting any third parties. Cooperation between
China and Russia is within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, protected by the law, and is not directed at any third
parties. (Western) speculations are unnecessary. "



3. ENVIRONMENT

"Which door does the 'carbon tariff' close?"

The official Communist Party international paper, People's Daily
Overseas Edition (Renmin Ribao Haiwaiban) (07/22): "A 'carbon
tariff' is not only a violation of the basic rules of the WTO, but
also contrary to the principle identified in the Kyoto Protocol that
the developed and developing countries "have common but
differentiated responsibilities" in the field of climate change.
The carbon tariff is being used to implement real trade protection
in the name of environmental protection. The Obama Administration
is attempting to increase its bargaining chip in international
climate negotiations and force China, India, Brazil and other big
developing countries to make concessions. Some scholars have
pointed out that the Obama Administration is trying to promote
economic recovery via green industries, and seize the future
industrial commanding heights after the financial crisis. In fact,
America's 'carbon tariff' is targeted at developing countries,
including China. Developing countries, as a result of a late start,
are in a disadvantageous position compared to the developed
countries in terms of industrial structure. It is extremely unfair
for developing countries to not only assume the responsibility for
reducing emissions, but also bear the risk of economic contraction.
The result of the implementation of a 'carbon tariff' by the U.S.
Government may not be the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but
the retaliatory trade barriers imposed by developing countries. The
fundamental way for China to deal with the 'carbon tariff' is to
continuously expand its domestic demand and reduce its dependence on
exports, especially on exports of high energy-consumption
products."


GOLDBERG