MEDIA REACTION: OBAMA'S VISIT TO ASIA, CHINA'S DIPLOMACY,

UNCLAS BEIJING 003082 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: OBAMA'S VISIT TO ASIA, CHINA'S DIPLOMACY, U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. OBAMA'S VISIT TO ASIA "A look at Obama's Asia trip" The official Communist Party People's Daily Overseas Edition (Renmin Ribao Haiwaiban)(11/10)(pg 6): "Obama's decision to visit East Asia at a time when the U.S. economy is in recession, various domestic reforms are facing obstacles, and the U.S. foreign policy focus is on the war in Afghanistan and the war against terrorism demonstrates the Obama administration's emphasis on Asia, especially on East Asia. The visit also proves that the United States' East Asian policy has taken shape, and sends a clear signal that the United States is returning to Asia. After taking office, in a change from the Bush administration, Obama has advocated multilateralism, seeking broad cooperation with Asian nations in areas of common interest. The Obama administration currently needs a more practical relationship with China; its desire to contain China is diminishing. However, U.S. efforts to consolidate its alliance with Japan are an effective way to prevent its East Asian interests from being damaged while it is containing China. China should adopt a more practical approach to dealing with Obama's new Asian policy, one that addresses trilateral relations between the U.S., Japan and China." ¶2. CHINA'S DIPLOMACY "China needs to be flexible to plaster over differences" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/10)(pg 14): "The concept of a G2, with the U.S. and China jointly managing the international system, is gradually taking clearer shape and is being emphasized by the international community. This reflects the subtle but profound changes in China's bilateral relations caused by China's rise. However, tactically speaking, moving towards a bi-polar international system too early will not be beneficial for China's development since it would provoke hostility from the U.S. and put more pressure on China to shoulder international burdens. China should skillfully use the multi-polar system to ease these pressures. In fact, the trend is towards a three pillar system centered on the United States, Europe and China. In the future, China should place more emphasis on Europe to ease pressure for a U.S.-China bi-polar system. In the Asia-Pacific region, it is important for China to accurately judge the United States and make use of 'the U.S. factor.' The U.S. factor is a mixed blessing for China. It is crucial for China to learn how to deal with the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region and change the U.S. from an enemy into a friend. This requires further thought on China's part, on both the tactical and strategic level: how to allay the concerns of the United States and Japan over China's rise and their resulting demands on China." ¶3. U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS "The 'quarrel' between Japan and the United States is not harmful" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(11/10)(pg 5): "The U.S.-Japan alliance meets the national security needs of both countries. Experts said that the leaders of the United States and Japan will discuss issues such as aid to Afghanistan and environmental protection [during President Obama's visit to the region]. The 'Futenma airbase dispute' is nothing but the two countries trying to test each other's red lines. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama intends to create a more equitable alliance with the United States and is using this opportunity to test how far Japan can go if it stops following the U.S. At the same time, the U.S. hopes that the Futenma issue will not be the domino that destroys the entire plan for U.S. troops in Japan. In the end, though, the two countries need each other on many other issues." HUNTSMAN