MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. POLICY

UNCLAS BEIJING 000980

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 PREL ECON

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. POLICY

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

a. "American media sensationalized the so called Chinese 'toxic
construction materials'" The official Communist Party international
news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/14): "Since the
American media reported about the "toxic, made-in-China, drywall",
the reports of "suffering from the toxic effects of Chinese
construction materials" have begun to be seen in the American media.
Some American media emotionally expressed that the U.S. government
was "afraid of China" so they allowed the exporting of China's toxic
construction materials to America. Two Chinese drywall producers
were sued in Florida this January. But according to the detecting
results done by the Florida Health Department, the materials will
not cause health problems to the public. The Associated Press
reported on the 12th that New Orleans residents, who used a lot of
imported construction materials from China for their house
construction, felt physically uncomfortable [due to the toxic
effects of the construction materials] and were very disappointed in
Chinese construction materials. Chinese experts questioned this
since Hurricane Katrina happened four years ago, why is the media
reporting this news about the "toxic construction materials" and
"the residents feeling uncomfortable" in New Orleans now?
The American Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and some
American States have conducted investigations on this issue.
Researcher Niu Xinchun, from China Institute of Contemporary
International Relations, said that it was "irresponsible to report
such news before the whole situation has become clear. Such
emotional reactions are related to the financial crisis." Niu said,
"under the impact of economic downturn and importing problematic
Chinese products, some American media and individuals have made the
Chinese government and Chinese products their scapegoats." He
Weiwen from an institute of the U.S.-China Economy said that it is
"unreasonable to politicize this incident and condemn China, or
involve the American government." "

b. "The West needs to liberate their thoughts"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/14): "This article discusses China's
experiences through its 'opening up' period, over the last 30 years.
Constantly liberating its thoughts, throwing away old views, and
accepting new things are the important experiences China did to
successfully develop itself during the last 30 years. The financial
crisis has pushed the world into a crisis, this is a critical time.
This crisis awakes people's awareness of a unified world. Every
international organization and country should work together to
overcome the current crisis. However, the world is dominated by old
thinking, which is the biggest restraint. There are still
antagonism between "capitalism" and "socialism". The old thinking
is breaking apart the principles of free trade. To make a better
world, western countries need to liberate their thoughts and
experience an 'opening' of their own."


2. U.S. POLICY

"The Pentagon will militarize U.S. diplomacy"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(04/14): "The key theme is "preserving global
hegemony", and the Pentagon is walking the walk of no return by
increasing its powers, spending and becoming involved in more and
more issues. Meanwhile the ambitious Pentagon is being criticized
by the Department of State, which is saying that they are "secretly
seizing power". The Washington Post even suggests that the Pentagon
is "showing off his muscles." The Pentagon is criticized by
America's opponents that it is "doing things that are unsuitable to
their level of power". The criticisms against the U.S. say that the
Pentagon is unrestrained when it "gambles with the military forces."

The Pentagon has obvious advantages, especially when its budget is
larger than the budget of the Department of State. The unlimited
power of the Pentagon has been challenged by domestic America. The
Pentagon is not only powerful in interfering with diplomacy, but
also frequently creates troubles in order to lead diplomatically.
For example, there are the events of shooting down the Iranian
remotely piloted aircraft and the "Impeccable" in the South China
Sea. For Americans, the Pentagon is a symbol. Looking back at
American history, every important moment in American history was
decided by the war, for example, the War of Independence and the
Civil War that helped to gain the land in the south and the west, as
well as World War II. These wars set a foundation for America's
dominant position. The Pentagon is a product from the World War
II."

Weinstein