MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS, CHINA'S

UNCLAS BEIJING 002564 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 MILITARY RELATIONS, CHINA'S DIPLOMACY, AFGHANISTAN -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS "If U.S. insists on following its own course, there may be conflicts" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(09/08)(pg 24): "In recent years, the U.S. has conducted frequent military surveillance operations near coastal areas of China. According to the U.S. media, a new type of spy plane, the EP-8, will soon replace the old EP-3. Since the EP-8 has much more sophisticated capabilities than the EP-3, these U.S. military activities will surely encounter strong opposition from China. China has urged the U.S. to reduce, and even stop, its constant air and sea surveillance operations in China's exclusive economic zone. The U.S. Embassy's (in Beijing) Spokesperson, Susan Stevenson, confirmed China's request, but stated that the U.S. position has not changed. Experts argue that the U.S.'s surveillance operations will increase the likelihood of China-U.S. conflicts. The U.S. should first 'discipline' itself, and then promote military cooperation with China." ¶2. CHINA'S DIPLOMACY "China must grasp the opportunity provided by other countries' strategic retreat" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/08)(pg 14): "Due to the impact of the financial crisis on the global balance of power, the East-West issue has become less important than the North-South issue. The financial crisis has offered China and other newly-emerging countries an opportunity to play a more important political and economic role in the world. The financial crisis has greatly decreased overseas demand for Chinese goods, which has in fact given China an opportunity to adjust its economic structure and increase domestic demand. China should make good use of the current conflicts and shifting balances of power in the international community to gain a strategic advantage for as long as possible. Whether or not China can grasp this opportunity will depend on how China solves its own issues. The primary issue for China to solve is the ten unbalanced aspects of China's social development." ¶3. AFGHANISTAN "U.S. facing a dilemma in Afghanistan" The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao)(09/08)(pg 8): "The Afghan election, which has been described as the most democratic presidential election in Afghan's history, is facing a dilemma. The current President, Hamid Karzai, has taken the lead amid continuous complaints about the election from various parties in the country. For the U.S., which eagerly wants to get out of the war in Afghanistan, the election results are crucial. Western publics believe Karzai's political performance has been mediocre; the White House believes Karzai is not as obedient as before; and U.S. politicians agree that Karzai is not the appropriate candidate to effectively implement the Obama administration's new strategy. Another presidential candidate, Abdullah Abdullah, seems to curry more favor in the U.S. than Karzai. However, if Karzai wins the election, Abdullah may call for street battles to fight against the Karzai government. Thus, the election will become the prelude to an Afghan civil war. As a result, Afghanistan will become even more chaotic, leading to a complete failure of Obama's new Afghanistan strategy. The Afghan elections are at their most critical stage. No matter what the result is the U.S. has to make a choice: either support Karzai or face the collapse of the anti-Taliban alliance. This will be a critical test for Obama's new strategy." HUNTSMAN