MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. ECONOMY

UNCLAS BEIJING 002460 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.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. ECONOMY -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS a. "Does the U.S. condone CNN's interference in Taiwan issues? (pg 14)" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(08/27): "What is the real intention behind the CNN poll on whether or not Ma Ying Jeou should step down? Media always acts as if it is a guide for public opinions. What's more, the CNN poll has had an obvious slant. This time, CNN has blatantly poked its nose into other people's business. Even the media and people of Taiwan find it hard to accept this behavior. The political inclination of the CNN poll reflects three possibilities: first, some of Taiwan's political organizations have infiltrated CNN headquarters; second, some political groups may be influencing CNN's correspondences in Taiwan; or third, there are many U.S. Chinese-American political groups trying to influence U.S. policy on China. In fact, the U.S. often uses 'soft power,' such as CNN, to influence world opinion. Chinese media and people should be vigilant about these moves by the U.S." b. "Speculation as to what Obama might give to China during his visit in November (pg 2)" The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao) (08/27): "Zhang Guopei of the U.S. Studies Institute at China's Academy of Social Sciences said that one of the important tasks for the U.S. Ambassador to China is preparing for President Obama's visit in November. We hope that Ambassador Huntsman will achieve great deal in U.S.-China business cooperation, trade dispute resolution and U.S.-China cultural exchanges, in order to create a more positive and harmonious environment for Obama's visit. Analysts speculate that in the next couple of months, the U.S. might give China certain benefits in order to create a better atmosphere in advance of Obama's visit. For example, China and the U.S. might reach an agreement concerning jointly developing new energy technology. Jin Canrong of the Institute of International Studies at the People's University of China believes that the best 'gift' that the U.S. could give China would be offering it the 'market-economy treatment.' He also indicates that a second 'gift' would possibly be relaxing the limits on China's technology exports. Analysts' further point out that in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, the U.S. should avoid moving on issues like Tibetan independence, human rights and arms sales to Taiwan. For example, Obama would not meet the Dalai during his visit to the U.S. in October. Mr. Jin said that U.S.-China relations have begun well and need to move forward slowly." ¶2. U.S. ECONOMY "Huge U.S. deficit becomes a difficult economic problem (pg A22)" The official popular newspaper Beijing Youth Daily (Beijing Qingnianbao)(08/27): "The U.S. government and Congress have issued the highest-ever budget deficit predictions for the next ten years. The predictions of the U.S. government and the Congress are different from each other mainly because the White House made the prediction assuming the government will not increase taxes while Congress's predictions are based on the fact that the previous administration's tax reductions will take effect by 2011. However, analysts believe that these predictions are not always accurate and will change based on future circumstances. It is foreseeable that the budget deficit issue will continue to disturb the U.S. economy for a long time." HUNTSMAN