MEDIA REACTION: U.S-JAPAN-CHINA, U.S. BURMA POLICY, CHINA

UNCLAS BEIJING 002372 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-JAPAN-CHINA, U.S. BURMA POLICY, CHINA TRADE RELATIONS -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S-JAPAN-CHINA "The U.S. does not need to use 'Japan's nuclear weapons' to deter China" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (08/17): "At Japan's insistence, the U.S. has promised to provide 'nuclear protection' to Japan. The U.S. also did this in order to dissipate Japanese ambitions to develop nuclear weapons. Preventing Japan from getting out of control and even again joining an opposition against the U.S. is a central part of the U.S.'s long-term strategic considerations vis-`-vis Japan. There is little possibility that the U.S. would allow Japan to develop nuclear weapons. Thus, the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives' comment that one day China will have to choose between a denuclearized North Korea and a nuclear-armed Japan is only an attempt to put more pressure on China. On the one hand, the U.S. says North Korea's nuclear threat is not really that serious; but, on the other hand, the U.S. hypes the danger of Japan's nuclear armament in an attempt to corner China. China will not be pressured into changing its stance on the North Korean nuclear issue. Thus, the U.S. does not need to use the 'Japan card' to deter China." ¶2. U.S. BURMA POLICY "Another example of 'smart power'" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao) (08/17): "U.S. Senator Jim Webb's visit to Burma has political implications. It demonstrates that the U.S. government's policy of sanctioning Burma has changed into one of 'contact and dialogue.' The improvement in U.S.-Burma relations is not only helpful for the U.S. to obtain Burmese oil resources, but also to strengthen the U.S.'s presence in Southeast Asia to counter China's influence in the region. The U.S. policy change with regard to Burma is another example of Secretary Clinton's 'smart power.' Obama is using 'smart power' to deal with hostile countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, and North Korea. The U.S. government has realized that suppressing Burma will not help win that country over. Besides, Burma's recent 'close contact' with North Korea, especially in the military arena, concerns the U.S. Analysts believe that if the U.S. continues to isolate Burma, in a few years Burma will become the second North Korea and it will be too late then for the U.S. to change policy." ¶3. CHINA TRADE RELATIONS "Not all of China's trade disputes are bad" The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao) (08/17): "The U.S. is the country that has the most trade disputes with China. Although the U.S. has always made a lot of noise about these disputes, they can usually be resolved smoothly. Resolving trade disputes has helped China become more and more of a market economy. Indeed, trade disputes can help China re-examine and reflect on its economic development model, which is currently too dependent on exports. The basic way to resolve these trade disputes is for China to decrease exports and increase domestic demand. This is also the best method for achieving sustainable economic development in China. Even if China succeeds in shifting to a more domestic demand-driven economy, trade disputes may still exist, albeit in a slightly different form. When China's economy depends more on consumption than on exports, China will increasingly play the role of the plaintiff in trade disputes rather than the passive role of the defendant." GOLDBERG