Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING701
2009-03-18 08:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

Tags:  OPRC KMDR CH 
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VZCZCXRO2452
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #0701 0770843
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180843Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2940
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BEIJING 000701 

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: PAKISTAN, SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

--------------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------------

UNCLAS BEIJING 000701

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: PAKISTAN, SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

--------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------


1. PAKISTAN

"Chaotic Pakistan worries the world"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(03/18): "The Pakistani government has
recently resumed the position of the Chief Judge. The former
Premier, Sharif, has requested that the protesting cease. However,
no one in the media believes that if the protests stopped that
Pakistan would be peaceful. Pakistan is intensely populated,
possesses nuclear weapons, and is at the front line of the war on
terror. It is involved in many sophisticated conflicts. Each
conflict has the possibility to become a fuse. China, being a
neighbor of Pakistan, knows that any chaos in Pakistan is not a good
thing for China.

The U.S. and UK seem to be more nervous than Pakistan about this
chaos because Pakistan is like a wall protecting them from
terrorists. Psychologically Pakistani people are pro-U.S. - though
they don't want to admit it. The U.S. has always adopted a practical
policy on Pakistan. The U.S.' influence on Pakistan can't be
ignored. However, because they are influenced by the U.S., Pakistan
can't find a development path that is right for both the country and
is acceptable to the world. The U.S. could support a 'holy war' to
fight against Russia and promote the Muslim population in some areas
of Pakistan, and at the same time suppress Islam in order to prevent
the expansion of religious extremists in Pakistan. After this
crisis, the U.S. may turn its support towards Sharif since he can
provide more cooperation with the U.S. In the future, the U.S. may
use Sharif's relations with Islamic leaders and Saudi Arabia to
fight against the Islamic extremists."


2. SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTES

"A Cold War at sea, between the U.S. and China is unlikely"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(03/18): "The incident involving the U.S.
Navy's spy ship was obviously aimed at China. Earlier, an American
expert on Chinese marine issues wrote a book that mentions the
prosperous development of China's Navy, suggesting that the U.S.
should avoid a Cold War-like conflict at sea. However, Chinese
analysts indicate that it is unlikely that this type of conflict
will occur.

The gap between China's Navy and the U.S. Navy will not change in
the short term. Meanwhile, it doesn't matter whether China's
military strength is developing in an appropriate way, the U.S.
strategy of besieging China will continue. The U.S. has increased
its military drills and spying activities around China. This may
increase the possibility of friction. Some U.S. military personnel,
making use of the new Obama administration unfamiliarity with
related issues, are trying to create incidents in order to gain
people's sympathy as well as increase their military budget.
Coordination systems should be established quickly in order to
increase our bilateral communication. Both countries should maintain
restraint, leaving space for diplomatic resolution."

PICCUTA