MEDIA REACTION: CLIMATE CHANGE, TAIWAN, NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS BEIJING 003376 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 SENV KGHG KMDR OPRC CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CLIMATE CHANGE, TAIWAN, NORTH KOREA -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. CLIMATE CHANGE "Holding to the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities" The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao)(12/17)(pg 4): "The root cause and the nature of climate change must be clarified before all the countries will reach consensus; developed countries should be accountable for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. What's more, the carbon emissions per capita of developing countries have been far less than that of developed countries, not to mention the fact that many industrial countries have contracted out carbon emissions to developing countries. Ambassador Yu Qingtai, Chinese special envoy for climate change negotiation, has clearly stated China's stance: that China, due to the country's development of an economic society and the uplifting of many people's living standard, will not limit the Chinese people's rights to 1/3, 1/4 or even 1/5 of those of the developed countries' people. To achieve our 2020 goal of reducing carbon emissions by 45 percent per GDP compared to 2005, China needs to invest USD$30 billion every year for the next ten years, which means that each Chinese household would need to contribute USD$64. The Chinese people would have to practice thrift savings at home in order to make this happen." ¶2. TAIWAN "Impulse behind the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan" The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(12/17)(pg 10): "It is rumored that the United States will sell arms to Taiwan. There are always multiple forces behind the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The huge military industry complex in the U.S. consisting of the military, arms dealers and congressmen has formed a super interest group that has almost 'kidnapped' the military policies of the U.S. This includes arms sales to Taiwan. At the same time, there are always groups of Hawks in U.S. foreign departments, their Congress or their think tanks who consider China's rise as a threat and continue to implement a containment policy against China. Taiwan is still the U.S.'s best pawn used to contain China. Therefore, selling arms to Taiwan meets the U.S.'s strategic needs. However, the impulse to sell arms to Taiwan is not their real strategy. Whether the United States intends to sell arms or is just making noise will depend on the result of these complex political games." ¶3. NORTH KOREA "South Korean media says North Korea will temporarily shut its doors to foreigners" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/17)(pg 2): "In regard to the news that North Korea will forbid foreigners from entering the country, media speculates that North Korea is trying to manage the possible internal chaos caused by its currency reform measures and to prevent the expansion of the A/H1N1 flu. Experts said that these are North Korea's regular year end measures and should not be worrisome. The South Korean government is cautious concerning the news. A South Korean official said that North Korea issued invitations to several non-official South Korean groups who will be visiting North Korea after December 20th. It requires further observation whether or not North Korea will actually restrict foreigners from entering the country. The South Korean military also considered the news an indication of a dramatic change in North Korea. However, there haven't yet been any unusual moves by the North Korean military. Global Times reporters have also observed that even though North Korea is undergoing a currency reformation, no internal chaos has occurred. Many supermarkets and stores were in normal operations. What's more, there were not too many A/H1N1 patients. It is peaceful in Pyongyang and there has been no panic." GOLDBERG