MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, CHINA'S MILITARY

UNCLAS BEIJING 000602

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, CHINA'S MILITARY
EXPENSES, SUDAN

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

"The U.S. and China should grasp the second strategic cooperation
opportunity"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(03/09): "Chinese
Minister of Foreign Affairs will visit the U.S. from March 9 to 13.
Recently, along with the frequent U.S.-China senior official
exchanges, Obama's China policy is starting to take shape. An
important characteristic of the policy is to deepen cooperation in
aspects like finance, security and climate change. Strategically
the U.S. will put more emphasis on China and at the same time be
more cautious in dealing with China. The Obama administration's
political foundation is not yet concrete. Therefore, in the future
the Obama administration will rely on the congress's China policy.
During the Obama administration, decision making will change from
the Finance Department, often taken during the Bush era, to joint
decision making between the Finance Department and the Department of
State, where the latter will take the lead. The foreign policy of
the U.S. is currently aimed at combining principle with flexibility.
Following this logic, the U.S. thinks that developing the U.S.-China
military relationship doesn't contradict with its arms sales to
Taiwan. The financial crisis has provided these two countries a
second chance for strategic cooperation. It is possible that the
bilateral relationship will further develop."


2. CHINA'S MILITARY EXPENSES

"The West cannot understand China's military expenses"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(03/09): "At the
11th NPC Li Jiaoxing mentioned China's defense budget will increase
by 14.9%. Many countries leveled criticisms that China's budget is
increasing too fast and is not transparent enough. However their
criticisms do not have a concrete foundation. The West has always
improved its own military power, and yet it says that China's
military expense harms global stability. China issued 'the White
Book on National Defense' in January which stated that China will
take the road of peaceful development and implement a defensive
national defense policy; which will not first-use nuclear weapons
instead adopting a self-defense nuclear strategy, and will not have
an arms race with any other country."


3. SUDAN

"Sudan ignores ICC arrest warrant"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(03/09): "Analysts
believe that the ICC arrest warrant is very likely to become an
ineffective paper in view of the great difficulties involved in
fulfilling it. Sudan has repeatedly said that it is not a member of
the Rome Statute. Not to mention that the main opponent of Sudan,
the U.S., is not the member of Rome Statute itself. African and
Arabian countries will give sympathy and support to Sudan. The West
will not just ignore these oppositions and directly interfere using
military force. It is not convenient for the U.S. to implement the
arrest. The U.S. Department of State spokesperson said that the
tyrant should be responsible for his behavior. Analysts also point
out that the U.S. has adopted a double standard against al-Bashir.
Because the U.S. worries that its military officers and political
officials will be sued, the U.S. did not participate in the Rome
Statute. It does not accept the control of the ICC. However it
points at Sudan, who is also not an ICC member. The U.S. is so
brazen and shameless."

PICCUTA