MEDIA REACTION: CLIMATE CHANGE, AFGHANISTAN, CHINA-CENTRAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003398 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, AFGHANISTAN, CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. CLIMATE CHANGE a. "Climate change poses a threat to global security" The official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (Zhongguo Qingnianbao)(12/18)(pg 10): "Climate change poses a greater threat to the world than terrorism. This is not just an alarmist view since climate change will lead to increased competition between countries over resources, which may lead to conflict and war. The role of the military in the future will be challenged as unconventional security threats posed by climate change increase. In addition to emissions reductions, militaries should decrease, or give up completely, their usage of 'climate weapons,' which, although satisfying short-term military goals, will ultimately cause long-term damage to the earth by changing natural conditions. Climate change directly influences mankind's survival and, therefore, will also inevitably influence global security. From a military angle, combating global warming requires not only a sense of environmental protection, but also requires that all countries be cautious about the possibility of war." b. "The United States is despotic at Copenhagen" The official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (Zhongguo Qingnianbao)(12/18)(pg 5): "Three incidents that occurred at the Copenhagen Conference - the delay of the meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action, the change of the conference chairwoman, and the release of the Danish draft agreement - all reflect the United States' overweening mentality. Another incident that occurred at the gate of the conference's main venue on December 16 was further proof of this attitude. While people were waiting outside in extremely cold temperatures in the security screening line, which was progressing very slowly, the American delegates at the conference got approval to enter the venue through the exit door without waiting in line, which caused people to 'boo' at them. Rajendra Pachauri, the Chairwoman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who was also waiting in line, wore the expression of someone who could do nothing about it." ¶2. AFGHANISTAN "Afghanistan is not China's battlefield" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/18)(pg 15): "Despite all the reasons outlined by people who support China's sending of troops to Afghanistan, such as protecting China's economic interests and establishing a good image for China, China's international and military strategies are defensive in nature, not interest-oriented or prone to pre-emptive strikes. In addition, the war in Afghanistan is the United States' war, not China's. China will only send troops to another country to engage in war when China's core interests are seriously threatened. Moreover, there are various ways to protect China's interests in Afghanistan. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has taken responsibility for promoting security cooperation in Central Asia. The counterterrorism war in Afghanistan has not yet become a threat to China's core interests. It is in fact Obama's strategic plan to ask China to send troops to Afghanistan. It is important for China to evaluate how it will send troops to foreign countries and how to use armed force in today's non-traditional security environment. But it is surely a joke to say that the United States' request for China to send troops is based on a consideration of China's interests." ¶3. CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS "China obtains resources from Central Asia in good faith" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(12/18)(pg 2): "As China's domestic consumption has increased, so has its demand for energy resources. Great powers are competing against each other in Central Asia. In order to direct the flow of Central Asia's resources to the East, China needs to strengthen its economic ties with Central Asian countries. The big natural gas pipeline from Central Asia to China, which opened on December 15, shows that China's cooperation with Central Asia has made great progress. Cooperation on energy resources is a win-win situation for both China and Central Asia, but China should also be aware that its economic ties and cooperation with Central Asia are not yet stable or thorough enough. In order to strengthen its energy cooperation with Central Asian countries, China should continue to provide them with long-term, low-interest loans as well as additional financial cooperation. In light of the possible BEIJING 00003398 002 OF 002 obstacles in the process of cooperation, China should also obtain Central Asian countries' trust by adopting a more sincere and friendly attitude towards them." GOLDBERG