MEDIA REACTION: U.S. EAST ASIAN POLICY, S&ED, NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS BEIJING 002198 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: PREL ECON KMDR OPRC CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. EAST ASIAN POLICY, S&ED, NORTH KOREA -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S. EAST ASIAN POLICY "Three major changes in the U.S.'s East Asian policy" The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) (08/03): "Two recent moves by the United States show that the U.S.'s attitude towards the integration of East Asia is changing. First, the U.S. signed a 'Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,' which has given rise to speculation that the U.S. may attend the East Asian Summit. Second, the U.S.'s Mekong River development plan has involved the U.S. in East Asian regional economic cooperation efforts. These two moves show that the U.S. is changing from a pessimistic observer to an active participant in the process of East Asian integration. Specifically, there have been three changes in U.S. East Asian policy. First, the Obama Administration has attached more importance to and increased its input in the region. Secretary Clinton's visit to East Asia this February, which included India, shows that the Obama Administration's relationship with Southeast Asia is strengthening. Second, "development" is getting more attention since the Obama Administration put development alongside diplomacy and defense as one of the three pillars of U.S. diplomacy. Finally, the role of public diplomacy has been promoted and there is more direct communication with publics in the region. In this way, the United States is trying to improve its international image." ¶2. S&ED "One dialogue, two games" The independent Chinese weekly business newspaper distributed in major cities throughout China, Economic Observer (Jingji Guanchabao) (08/03): "'The first dialogue between the Obama Administration and Beijing is a game not just between the U.S. and China, but also between Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner,' Deputy Director of the China Academy of Social Sciences' U.S. Studies Division Zhang Liping argues. U.S. concerns include financial issues, clean energy, and a new model of economic development. It is not easy to reach a consensus when the two countries have different concerns. One substantive result of the dialogue was a memorandum to increase cooperation on climate change, energy, and the environment. Obama has been emphasizing 'green,' low carbon, and hydrogen initiatives since he took office, but many doubts still linger. Zhang indicated that the U.S. focus on 'green initiatives' is due to two factors. First, Obama wants to create new economic growth, develop new technologies, and maintain the U.S.'s leading position in 'green economics.' Obama has been very clear that the U.S.'s manufacturing and information technology industries will not return to their glorious past. The U.S. is the current leader in 'green economics,' and its ultimate goal is to maintain this position. Second, the U.S. can limit China's exports by using 'green economics' and create a non-tariff barrier in the name of environmental protection. Zhang said China could agree to emission reductions, but should only do so if guaranteed certain environmental compensations and encouragement mechanisms. The game of posturing is just starting between the U.S. and China." ¶3. NORTH KOREA "China refuses to plot with the U.S. against North Korea" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (08/03): "U.S. media recently reported that the U.S. hoped to cooperate with China in drawing up contingency plans for the possible collapse of North Korea, but was rebuffed by China. Although the U.S. and South Korea have been making plans for a sudden change in the political situation in North Korea, this is the first time that the U.S. has tried to publicly draw in China. Chinese scholars said that the U.S. has brought this up with China many times, but China's stance has always been to not respond. This recent move by the U.S. is not only to put pressure on North Korea, but also to pressure China to discuss this issue with the U.S. and South Korea. Dai Xu, a Chinese military expert, said that the U.S. move is a plot to alienate China from North Korea. Yu Wanli, a scholar at Peking University, emphasized that instability in North Korea is not in China's interest. China will not let a 'collapse' happen in North Korea, but will also not just sit by and watch the U.S. and South Korea take advantage of instability in North Korea to divide the country. The Chinese government will not publicly discuss the 'post-Kim Jong Il era' with the U.S. since China advocates a policy of not interfering in other countries' internal affairs. What's more, the U.S. and China do not share the same view on this issue." GOLDBERG