MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA S&ED DIALOGUE, NORTH KOREA, THE

UNCLAS BEIJING 002141

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 PREL ECON CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA S&ED DIALOGUE, NORTH KOREA, THE
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA S&ED DIALOGUE

"The first round of the U.S.-China S&ED will start with a good
opening"

The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) (07/27):
"The first round of the S&ED symbolizes the new era and structure of
the U.S.-China relationship. The dialogue has three
characteristics. First, it is high-level and large-scale, and has
aroused international attention. Vice Premier Wang Qishan - along
with more than 100 other Chinese officials - will attend the
dialogue for China as the representative of President Hu Jintao;
Secretary Clinton will represent President Obama for the United
States. Such a high-level dialogue will surely get the world's
attention. Second, the topics are broad and will address a variety
of concerns. The main topic of discussion will be how the two
countries can cooperate to deal with the international financial
crisis. Regarding other urgent global challenges, the biggest
developed country (the U.S.) and the biggest developing country
(China) will exchange views on a wide-range of political, security,
and economic issues. This is necessary and inevitable. Third, the
dialogue is a good start. It is very significant and fits the
common interests of the two countries. The U.S.-China relationship
has been consistently gaining momentum since Obama took office and
both countries have taken positive actions to further strengthen the
relationship. The S&ED has become the new direction in developing
the bilateral relationship."


2. NORTH KOREA

"War of Words between the U.S. and North Korea"

The official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (Zhongguo
Qingnianbao) (07/27): "The war of words between U.S. Secretary of
State Clinton and North Korea has made the confrontation between the
U.S. and North Korea more prominent. It has also cast a shadow over
the future of the North Korean nuclear issue. Analysts said it is
inappropriate for Secretary Clinton, as the top U.S. diplomat, to
make insulting comments to a sovereign nation even when clarifying
the nature of the North Korean nuclear issue and the U.S.'s stance
on this issue. The unnecessary conflict her comments caused will
not be helpful in resolving this issue. While Secretary Clinton
also left a door open for negotiations, North Korean officials have
declared that the Six-Party Talks are now dead. Analysts believe
that North Korea's recent tough stance towards the U.S. is due to
the fact that North Korea wants to make the nuclear issue a
bilateral issue between itself and the U.S. If the U.S. continues
to insist on denuclearization first while North Korea insists on the
U.S. first stopping its "hostile policies," it will be difficult for
the North Korean issue to emerge from its current impasse."


3. THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

"Senior U.S. officials promote peace in the Middle East on three
separate visits"

The official popular newspaper Beijing Youth Daily (Beijing
Qingnianbao) (07/27): "Gates will start his first visit to Israel as
Defense Secretary and U.S. Middle East envoy Mitchell will pay his
second visit to Syria since Obama took the office. The Middle East
peace process is the major focus of these senior U.S. officials'
visits, especially Mitchell's visit to Syria. It shows that the
Obama administration is urging more Arab countries to help restart
the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as part of the Middle East peace
process. Mitchell indicated that Syria has a critical role to play
in achieving Middle East peace. Although U.S.-Syrian relations have
improved, the Obama Administration announced recently that it will
continue the Bush Administration's sanctions against Syria. Syrian
Foreign Affairs Minister said Syria hopes Mitchell's visit can be
the beginning of dialogue between the two countries."

GOLDBERG