MEDIA REACTION: U.S. SOUTHEAST ASIA POLICY, NUCLEAR

UNCLAS BEIJING 002785 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. SOUTHEAST ASIA POLICY, NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, IRAN -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S. SOUTHEAST ASIA POLICY "U.S. strategy for returning to Southeast Asia is gradually becoming clear" The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao)(09/28)(pg 12): "At the G20 summit, President Obama said he wanted to hold the first ASEAN-U.S. summit in Singapore in November. This is another step the U.S. has taken to adjust its East Asia policy. Since the beginning of the year, the U.S. has made a number of diplomatic moves in Southeast Asia, which highlight the fact that its overall strategy for returning to Southeast Asia is beginning to take shape. For example, on September 24, Secretary Clinton said that the U.S. will adjust its policy on Burma from implementing sanctions to establishing contacts. This new U.S. relationship with Burma is seen as a breakthrough for the U.S.'s strategy in the region. All these diplomatic moves by the U.S. are aimed at countering China's increasing influence in East Asia. In the next several years, the U.S. will further increase its level of cooperation with ASEAN countries. Its strategy toward four countries in particular - Vietnam, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia - deserves China's attention." ¶2. NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT "UNSCR 1887 emphasizes 'nonproliferation' but neglects 'nuclear disarmament'" The Beijing-based newspaper sponsored by official intellectual publication Guangming Daily and Guangdong Provincial official publication Nanfang Daily The Beijing News (Xin Jing Bao)(09/26)(pg A22): "The passing of UN Security Council Resolution 1887 demonstrates the world's common stance on eliminating nuclear threats in all countries. The resolution has been welcomed by those advocating weapons control and has brought urgently-needed emphasis to the dangers of nuclear weapons, technology, and proliferation around the world. It is also seen as a recognition of Obama's proposal for 'a world free of nuclear weapons.' However, experts argued that the resolution may encounter opposition within the U.S. itself. And, although the resolution is indeed historic and shows that the UN Security Council has a key responsibility in addressing nuclear threats, critics point out that it did not contain requirements that nations take measures to achieve nuclear disarmament." ¶3. IRAN "China does not like the phrase 'punish'" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/27)(pg 1): "Iran is the country the West has the hardest time taming, so the West has now shifted its pressure onto China. According to a Global Times poll, 20% of Chinese netizens support Chinese sanctions against Iran, while 80% oppose such sanctions. China has important oil interests in Iran, but no one in China would want Iran to be able to make atomic bombs. China's attitude on the Iran issue is contradictory. Scholar Yin Zheng at the China Academy of Social Sciences argued instead that China's stance on the Iran issue is clear: first, the international non-proliferation regime must be respected; and second, the issue must be resolved politically. Another scholar Wang Feng said that China's energy cooperation with Iran did not violate the new UN Security Council resolution on Iran. Professor Jin Canrong at the People's University of China argued that if the UN really implements sanctions on Iran, China will finally take action together with the West since China must respect the mainstream opinion in the Arab world: that of the Sunnis. Dr. Zhao Guojun at the Shanghai Academy of Social Science said that China advocates independent diplomacy and will not follow the West's lead. China has the power to differ from the West and make its own decisions, in compliance with the interests of the international community." HUNTSMAN