MEDIA REACTION: U.S. POLITICS, NORTH KOREA,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000752

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. POLITICS, NORTH KOREA,
SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE,HUMAN RIGHTS

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


1. U.S. POLITICS

'A short honeymoon'

21 Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao) under
Guangdong 21 century publishing company Ltd. (03/21):
"According to a recent poll, Obama's support rate has
dropped by 10% for the past two months. Trade policies
brought forward by the Obama administration have inclined
strongly towards protectionism. Policies to fight against
global warming have not yet taken effect. Domestically,
two of the major measures that he has taken, a large
economic stimulus plan and a series of bank rescue
measures, have both failed to bolster his reputation. A
political honeymoon is always short. If Obama cannot meet
the high expectations through his actions, the U.S.
voters will realize that all his talk is nothing but an
illusion. If Obama cannot stop AIG from giving out their
bonuses, he will lose the support of the people. However,
this is a short sighted trend. If this trend was combined
with a real economic downturn, the situation could turn
into a severe political crisis. In the past two months,
the numbers of people who did not vote for him and yet
accept his governance are dropping. This is alarming to
Obama whose goal is to seek cross party acceptance."


2. NORTH KOREA

"North Korea urges Obama to show his 'bottom line'"

The official Communist Party international news
publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(03/23): "North
Korea's plan to launch a satellite has been continuously
irritating North East Asia. Recently, North Korea
detained two American journalists which will make the
situation more chaotic. However, North Korea is already
being circled by an Aegis warship. North Korea's
determination to launch a satellite seems greater than
the determination of the U.S. and Japan to intercept the
missile. North Korea seems determined to urge Obama to
show his final cards. This is a dangerous game, one that
China can not remove itself from. Chinese analysts
indicate that the interception of a North Korean
satellite will bring disastrous damage to regional
security. South Korea will be the primary victim, China
and other Eastern Asian countries will be next. The Obama
administration hopes to conduct pacifying policies on the
North Korea issue. It does not yet have a fixed policy on
North Korea. The purpose of North Korea's gesture is to
try and gain attention from the Obama administration.
China has been actively monitoring the issue. China can't
be the stopping point. It requires each party to have the
willingness to stop the crisis from any further
development."


3. SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

"China can't be a silent sheep"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news
publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu
Daobao)(03/23): "During the diplomatic association
concerning the South China Sea dispute, China
underperformed in the oral fight. The U.S. criticism
against China was relayed by the Pentagon with much
detail. However, China's response only used simple
diplomatic language. In many occasions, China is not good
at telling the world the truth. In this way, China has
become a silent sheep. The best way to deal with the U.S.
is not to challenge the U.S., but not to surrender either.
The U.S. attitude on China is: if I die, you must die
even worse than me. China's purchase of American bonds is
one example of this. The U.S. acted in a hegemonic way,
suggesting that 'You (China) must lend me money and you
don't need to know how I will use it.' This is why China
should conduct more negotiations with the U.S., bringing
up China's own suggestions on reforming the international
financial system."


4. HUMAN RIGHTS

"China Q West human rights disputes become more
complicated"


BEIJING 00000752 002 OF 002


The official Xinhua News Agency international news
publication International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu
Daobao)(03/23): "The U.S. and European congresses
recently passed Tibet related resolutions. These
resolutions, plus the recent U.S.: China Human Rights
Report have opened up new human rights campaigns against
China. Without any more prominent China related topics or
the continuous influence of the financial crisis, the
China-West human rights debate will become more sensitive.
Currently, developing countries are not in a
disadvantageous position concerning conflicts in the UN
Human Rights Council. Moreover, due to several human
rights scandals in the U.S., the advantages of western
and developed countries have been weakened. Along with
the westQs increasing anxieties concerning China's rising,
human rights will continue to be their tool to contain
and suppress China. The financial crisis has also forced
the west to use restraint. To deal with the financial
crisis and to increase the economy, the west needs
China's help. Western countries have to balance between
realistic interests and China's human rights issues.
Therefore, the fight between China and western countries
concerning human rights issues will become a more and
more complicated process."

PICCUTA