MEDIA REACTION: CLIMATE SUMMIT, CHINA MODEL

UNCLAS BEIJING 003222 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: CLIMATE SUMMIT, CHINA MODEL -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. CLIMATE SUMMIT a. "U.S. emissions reduction sincerity is doubtful" Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper 21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(12/02)(pg 2): "China, who insists on continuing common but differentiated responsibilities for the Copenhagen conference, is unwilling to sacrifice its goal of 'development being the primary task' for the total emissions reduction and therefore adopting 'carbon density tactic.' At present, China's carbon emissions are about 6.5 billion tons in total, the country's per capita carbon emissions are up to 4.5 tons. The subtleness of carbon density lies in the calculation method which consists of the GDP, carbon emissions and exchange rates. Because the carbon density will finally be calculated in dollars, China could achieve their standard based on the appreciated RMB exchange rate. Otherwise, it is a very difficult task to rely on technological advances to reduce per unit carbon emissions by 45% for China. In contrast, the United States' total emissions reduction target is outrageous and the U.S. per capita carbon emissions are up to 19 tons, which is four times more than that of China, while their unit carbon emission is about 0.7 tons. In other words, the key to the United States' emissions reduction lies in the per capita 'conspicuous consumption' of energy. The Obama administration's target of 'reducing 4% emissions as compared to 1990' is a goal with no sincerity, which is not only far lower than that of the Europe and Japan, its realization difficulties are far below China's." b. "China hoped the Copenhagen Conference would achieve 'fair and feasible' results" The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao)(12/02)(pg 3): "Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said 'China's fundamental stance on the issue is abiding by the UN framework convention on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, insisting on the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' and sticking to the Bali Roadmap. All developing countries' concerns on climate change deserve great attention and the sincere consideration of the developed countries and the entire international society. On the one hand, developed nations should honor their commitments to accomplishing or establishing the medium-term emissions reduction targets, and on the other hand provide developing nations with financing, technology transfer, and capability building support." ¶2. CHINA MODEL "U.S.-China joint statement confirms 'China road'" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/02)(pg 14): "The U.S.-China joint statement has confirmed that, between the United States and China, there are two development models. The statement also recognized the legitimate and legal positions of these two models of social development. This is a common view reached concerning different development directions for different social systems and different civilizations. Therefore, the statement factually and politically is equal to announcing the end of 'Western civilization-oriented theory', which means that one can now create a broad vision for the development of mankind's social systems and civilizations. Not following the West's political system and model represents China's Communist Party's courage, insight and insistence of over the issue of mankind's civilization model. The fact that a 'China road' has been affirmed by the U.S.-China Joint Statement only 200 years after the 'historical termination theory ' was produced, gives the theory historical significance and realistic value. Therefore it is the urgent task of Chinese intellectuals to extract and conclude any core values from the current China road." HUNTSMAN