MEDIA REACTION: CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, OBAMA

UNCLAS BEIJING 002910 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: CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, OBAMA VISIT, EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT "Chinese Foreign Minister asks the U.S. to stop interfering in China's internal affairs" Elite Reference (Qingnian Cankao),a newspaper affiliated to the official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (10/20) (pg 1): "Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said that the Congressional-Executive Commission on China's annual report distorts the facts and interferes in China's affairs. We (China) suggest the Commission stop interfering in China's affairs and damaging U.S.-China relations. Experts said that the [Commission's human rights] report will produce antipathy among the Chinese people towards U.S. interference in China's affairs. Given the one hundred year of history of being invaded by foreign imperial countries, the Chinese people's sensitivity to the interference of foreign countries is deep-rooted. Although the U.S. Congress claims that it is concerned about China's human rights, it allocates money to the separatists who plotted the March 14 and July 5 violent incidents. The Chinese people believe that the attention the U.S. pays to China's human rights is driven by ulterior motives. The Commission's human rights report is biased by only giving the view of one side, that of the separatists and terrorists. Such a report will not benefit the building of mutual trust between the governments and peoples of the two countries." ¶2. OBAMA VISIT "Obama should warm up before visiting China" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(10/20)(pg 2): "The U.S. should not expect to be rewarded merely for not labeling China as a currency manipulator. The U.S. has no basis on which to judge whether or not China has manipulated the exchange rate, because China is adopting a floating exchange rate under governmental supervision. The U.S. decision, though, is still wise since, given the current financial crisis, a trade or exchange rate war would not help any country. At this time, the U.S. needs China more than we need them. Today, although the volume of U.S. imports is decreasing, the percentage of 'made in China' products in the U.S. market is increasing. The U.S. also expects China to purchase more government bonds to maintain the value of the U.S. dollar. The success of Obama's upcoming visit to China will depend on what measures the U.S. takes to 'warm up' the visit, all of which must be sincere." ¶3. EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY "U.S. worries about not being able to join the East Asian Community" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(10/20)(pg 4): "On October 14, while in Beijing, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said that any important organization related to security, economy, or trade [in East Asia] should not exclude the U.S. The U.S. will participate in these types of organizations. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said, 'Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region is a necessary result of economic globalization and regional economic integration. The region's variety has led to the emergence of a multilateral mechanism in the region. China is happy to see the constructive role of the U.S. in regional peace, stability, and development, and is ready to step up coordination and cooperation with the U.S. in Asia-Pacific affairs.' Experts believe that Ma's remarks do not indicate Chinese support for U.S. participation in the [East Asia Community] organization, nor do they confirm Campbell's earlier comment about China recognizing U.S. participation. Campbell's statement may be a test of China's position and an indication of the U.S.'s anxiety [over the East Asian Community proposal]." HUNTSMAN