MEDIA REACTION: CHINA-U.S. SHIP INCIDENT

UNCLAS HONG KONG 000445 DEPT FOR INR/R/MR, INR/IC/CD, I/FW DEPT FOR EAP/PD, EAP/CM, EAP/P DEPT FOR VOA/BRF, TV-WPA WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC PRC POSTS FOR PA AIT USPACOM FOR FOR CIS PD ADVISER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CHINA-U.S. SHIP INCIDENT TOPIC: China-U.S. ship incident HEADLINES AND EXCERPTS: "Moderation needed in Sino-U.S. war of words" The independent English-language South China Morning Post said in an editorial (3/11): "Rivalry between China and the U.S. has to be carefully managed to prevent relations from nosediving. Incidents have too often in the past turned buoyant ties sour. Such could easily be the case with the confrontation between five Chinese ships and a U.S. navy vessel off Hainan Island on Sunday. Accusations and demands for an apology are being carelessly hurled about, and cool heads are needed to prevent an escalation.... There is no doubting the diplomatic war of words that has resulted, though. A Foreign Ministry official said that Chinese and international law had been violated. China's actions were denounced by a Pentagon spokesman as 'reckless, dangerous and unprofessional'. Neither side is budging; there is a danger that the sound footing to relations established during U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Beijing last month will be torn asunder.... Moderation is urgently needed. China and the U.S. must work together, not against one another. U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged the right diplomatic approach. Promising Sino-U.S. ties cannot be allowed to be squandered." "Relations are not flawless; China and the U.S. will be benefited by cooperating with each other." The center-left Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily News said in an editorial (3/11): "The U.S. surveillance ship 'Impeccable' was harassed by Chinese ships in the South China Sea near Hainan Island. The Chinese government put the blame on the U.S. in a high profile incident, reminiscent of the Sino-U.S. military plane crash eight years ago. The incident has cast a shadow over Sino-U.S. military relations. However, it will have very limited impact on their bilateral political and economic cooperation.... After U.S. Secretary of State Clinton assumed office, she chose Asia as the destination of her maiden voyage, and China was the focus of her Asia trip. China and the U.S. need cooperation in political and economic areas. The U.S. also needs China to keep on buying U.S. bonds amid the financial tsunami, so that the administration can inject large amounts of money to save the economy. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is visiting the U.S. to pave the way for the meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Obama at the G20 summit. The two sides may make use of the dispute this time to try to ascertain each other's strength. Despite the fact that their relations are not flawless, the basic principle of 'cooperation benefits both' will not be changed." "It's correct to safeguard China's sea rights" The pro-PRC Chinese-language Wen Wei Po had this editorial (3/11): "...Innocent passage of other country's naval ships through China's exclusive economic zone is allowed. However, no activity that will harm China's sovereignty is allowed. The U.S. surveillance ship 'Impeccable' carried out military surveying in China's exclusive economic zone. This is an act infringing upon China's sovereignty and violating international law and Chinese law. This is a military provocation. China is correct to safeguard its sea rights. The U.S. must stop such an activity. The current financial tsunami is raging. China and the U.S. should enhance cooperation to combat the crisis together and not provoke incidents and spur conflict. In this context, it is unwise for the U.S. naval surveillance ship to provoke an incident. Washington should assess the situation correctly. It should also learn from the lesson that U.S. national strength and prestige plummeted as a result of the Bush Administration's hegemonic behavior. Adjusting its unilateral foreign policies and maintaining stable Sino-U.S. relations are in line with the Obama administration's goal to combat economic recession. " DONOVAN