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 -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶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