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 -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶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