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

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Editorial Quotes
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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

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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