MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA TRADE, U.S. NATIONAL

UNCLAS BEIJING 002669 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 TRADE, U.S. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY, TIBET -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA TRADE "Obama is not reliable" The official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (Zhongguo Qingnianbao)(09/17)(pg 2): "The special protection case on tires reflects the remarkable cultural differences between China and the United States. Chinese experts were so optimistic about the case in August. However, by putting their hope in President Obama, they essentially gave up the matter. The U.S. President is not omnipotent. Regardless of whether or not Obama wants to provoke China or whether or not he supports free trade, he could not reject the case due to the conservative protectionists among the Representatives on Capitol Hill, in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the American Iron and Steel Association workers. The Chinese people believed that since there have not been any major disputes between the two countries since Obama took office and the U.S. showed such great hospitality to China during the S&ED, it is only logical that Obama would oppose protectionist measures against China. The case has exposed the two countries' different styles. The U.S. has 'a tough, cowboy style' compared to China's more refined and cultured style, which puts courtesy before tough measures. If China had started countervailing and anti-dumping investigations on U.S. products before Obama announced the [increased tire] tariffs, the result may have been different. This reveals the nature of China, which is low-profile and leaves the door open to opponents. However, the two countries' dispute over this case will not necessarily cause a trade war." ¶2. U.S. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY "China is on U.S. intelligence department's black list" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/17)(pg 1): "Chinese expert Jin Canrong said that, by putting China on its intelligence black list, the U.S. is provoking conflict and poisoning the international atmosphere. Since the end of WWII, the U.S. has been arrogant and always seen itself as 'the big boss.' Professor Shi Yinhong at People's University of China argued that although the U.S. listed China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran as 'potential challengers,' the U.S. knows very well that the threat China poses to the U.S. is small. The U.S. is not concerned about the current China, but rather China's ability to undermine the U.S. in the future. The [National Intelligence Strategy] report showed that the U.S. has not yet given up its Cold War mentality. Media outlets in some other Western countries, like the UK and Germany, have published similar reports hyping the cyber and espionage threat from China. When Chinese media then fight back, Western media blames this on a rise in Chinese nationalism. Jin Canrong added that such criticism from the U.S. could push China and Russia closer together. If China and Russia were determined to fight against the U.S. together, the U.S. would be severely harmed." ¶3. TIBET "Obama sent henchman to find out about the Dalai Lama's real situation" The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao) (09/17)(pg 3): "It is worth noting that two months before Obama's visit to China, he sent a delegation to visit the Dalai Lama's home. Currently, there is still a lot of uncertainty about how Obama will deal with the Tibet issue. The delegation's visit was labeled as 'private'; however, Obama's representative was the most senior U.S. official to meet the Dalai Lama since the Speaker of the House of Representatives met him last March. 'The henchman of Obama' will convey the President's respect to the Dalai Lama. Obama is likely to adopt the middle road in dealing with the Dalai Lama: supporting him on the one hand, but not meeting him on the other. However, even if Obama does not meet with the Dalai Lama, it does not mean that the U.S. has changed its policy on the Tibet issue. The U.S. uses the Tibet issue to contain China." HUNTSMAN