MEDIA REACTION: U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS BEIJING 002718 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. MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, AFGHANISTAN -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM "Obama's new policy receives unprecedented criticism" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/22)(pg 1): "Obama's plan to reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal will surprise the world even more than his decision to withdraw the plan for a missile defense system [in Eastern Europe]. Although Obama's move has irritated conservatives in the U.S., Chinese experts argued that he will be able to implement his new policy despite conservatives' pressure. Niu Xinchun, an international politics scholar, said the withdrawal of the missile defense system shows that Obama is promoting a neo-liberalist foreign policy, which is based on the idea that 'If I treat you well, you will treat me well,' rather than the foreign policy of the Bush administration, which was based on the idea that 'If I am stronger than you, you must treat me well.' Professor Han Xudong argued, however, that giving up the missile defense system has weakened the U.S.'s leadership. Allies of the United States will feel like they are being fooled and will be less willing to fight for the U.S. Obama may also change the U.S. strategy of hedging its bets with regards to China, because he believes, 'If you think China is an enemy, then China may really become an enemy.' Obama's presidency may present an opportunity for U.S.-China relations, one that China should grasp to develop friendship with, not hostility towards, the U.S." "U.S. missile defense plan changed; China should be wary" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(pg 3): "Dai Xu, a renowned military expert, said pressure from Europe may have eased tensions between the U.S. and Russia. Major General Wang Haiyun, an expert in international strategy, argued that the fact that the U.S. abandoned plans [for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe] shows that the U.S. wanted to ease European concerns and improve its relationship with Russia. This was not a sudden decision by the U.S. government. Deploying a missile defense system in Eastern Europe is not the optimal solution from a technical standpoint. Cost savings and resource optimization also influenced the decision. Song Xiaojun, a military expert, said that the U.S. move may signal a strategic shift towards the Asia-Pacific region. Dai Xu added that China will face increased pressure from the U.S. due to the improvement in U.S.-Russia relations. China should be particularly wary of greater U.S. economic pressure. The U.S. has not stopped its efforts to set up a missile defense system in the Asia-Pacific region, which is obviously targeted against China." ¶2. AFGHANISTAN "U.S. will lose in Afghanistan if it does not send more troops" The official popular newspaper Beijing Youth Daily (Beijing Qingnianbao)(09/22)(pg B4): "In a recent assessment report, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said that the U.S. needs to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan or it will lose the war. The report argued that the U.S. also needs to adopt a new strategy. Foreign troops have failed to protect the lives of civilians, which makes them occupation troops. The new strategy's primary goal should be winning the support of the Afghan people, not launching attacks on armed forces. Experts argue that this assessment has presented Obama with a difficult challenge since most Americans oppose the war in Afghanistan. Obama is cautious about sending more troops, but some Republican Congressmen have urged him to make a decision quickly or risk a further deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan." HUNTSMAN