MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. POLICY, HUMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000365 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: OPRC KMDR CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. POLICY, HUMAN RIGHTS -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS a. "New American Treasury Secretary changes the tone of his comments on China" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (02/12): "Geithner recently stated that the U.S. needs to cautiously judge China on its RMB exchange rate manipulation. And at the same time, he compliments China's efforts to deal with the financial crisis. The recent change in Geithner's tone is possibly a test from the Obama administration for China; reflecting the hesitancy in Obama's China policies. It shows that the Administration understands that rashly blaming China will not benefit the U.S. Geithner has softened the tone, on the one hand, because it is not a fact that China manipulates its currency; and on the other hand, because he realizes that criticizing China will not benefit the Obama administration. Secretary Clinton's visit to China will finally reveal, for all to see, the Obama administration's China policy. Some Americans want Secretary Clinton to communicate strength during her visit; and others want the visit to bring positivity the bilateral relationship. At present, because of the new U.S. government, China is enjoying a very beneficial relationship with the U.S." b. "The U.S.'s prejudice affects their expectations about China's stance" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (02/12): "VOA recently reported that China is planning to push the IMF to adopt a tough stance towards developed countries during the London 20 Nation Summit, being held in April. This announcement incited a strong reaction in the U.S. Some American scholars criticize China for seeking to lead developing countries and enlarge its influence in the international community. Chinese analysts indicate that China's suggestions concerning reforming the IMF are normal and not aimed by China's interests and goals. A call for reform in the IMF has always existed in the international community. The EU has always considered that the U.S. has too much control over the IMF. The Western media and personnel who are pointing fingers at China are obviously prejudiced against China. Developing countries, like China, have imbalanced rights in the IMF." ¶2. U.S. POLICY "If the U.S. betrays globalization" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (02/12): "A lot of factors in the U.S. show that, in general, there is a trend towards de-globalization in American society and its decision making. The current financial crisis looks like it will not end soon. However, more and more, the possibility of a second economic recession is appearing. What is worse, the national confidence of the U.S., in support of its behavior and mentality, has been seriously stricken. Americans have lost confidence in the U.S.'s political system, economic regulatory structure and financial ingenuity which they have been proud of in the past. Therefore, the global manufacturing center has been shifted to developing countries, lowering the standards for technology products. This has impacted the American middle class. Obama has to compromise and protect the American middle class by advocating the 'buy American' bill and inclining towards nationalism and trade protectionism within international trade. The trend of 'de-globalization' is greatly forced out of the objective situation, not because America wants to de-globalize. The situation forced the U.S. to deglobalize. China should not lay its hope in the U.S.' hands and wait for the U.S. to lead the world out of recession. Outside of the economy, the U.S. is 'de-globalizing' in the fields of the military and international relations. At the same time America is reducing its global dominance, America is giving more power to its allies. This will increase the instability in East Asia and the neighboring areas of China." ¶3. HUMAN RIGHTS "The West has not succeeded in watching China's human rights issues" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao) (02/12): "On February 9th, the UN Human Rights Council reviewed China's human rights issues. This is a chance to watch China fail. However, there are 40 countries within BEIJING 00000365 002 OF 002 the 60 that have affirmed China's human rights conditions are good. Chinese experts believe that the West complicates human rights issues by strangely simplifying and conceptualizing them. Non-Western countries should keep up their due diligence concerning the West's efforts to simplify the human rights issue, twisting the true meaning of the issue. Freedom, democracy and human rights are the West's spiritual foundation; they use them as a way to increase consolidation in the West. In suppressing non-Western countries over human rights issues, the U.S. and Europe find unity. Moreover, the West always feels they have a moral advantage on these issues and consider it a weakness in China. The West's concern over developing countries' human rights issues is not focused in caring for those countries, but focused at their governments. They rarely help the countries to solve any of the issues. Improvements in human rights conditions require time and a material guarantee." PICCUTA