MEDIA REACTION: U.S. POLITICS, NORTH KOREA, SOUTH CHINA SEA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000754

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

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Editorial Quotes
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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 - West human rights disputes become more complicated"

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

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weakened. Along with the west's 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