MEDIA REACTION: CHINA-INDIA, SOUTH ASIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002269 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CHINA-INDIA, SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL PEACE, ARMS RACE; NEW DELHI. This countrywide cable reports on relevant media reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. The Mission reports on English-language media via email through the daily "Early Edition" summary. -------------- CHINA-INDIA -------------- ¶1. "RIGHT MESSAGE TO CHINA," editorial in November 9 nationalist Hindi daily, VIR ARJUN: "By allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh despite Beijing's objections, India has given a clear message to China that Tawang belongs to us. If China's spies report honestly, their bosses will realize that the people of Arunachal Pradesh -- which it claims to be its territory -- are dedicated to India and full of hatred for China." ¶2. "WOULD CHINA WIN THE WATER WAR?" op-ed in November 9 centrist Marathi daily, NAVASHAKTI: "Whether the rest of the world has taken the U.N. report on depleting water levels seriously or not remains to be seen, but China surely has. China is very strategically harnessing the rivers around the Himalayas to generate hydropower for itself. While China might have good intentions of providing ample water and electricity to its people, its steps have resulted into a major water scarcity problem for the seven adjoining nations. India should arrange for a water sharing pact with China on an urgent basis." -------------- SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL PEACE -------------- ¶3. "BREAK THE SAARC DEADLOCK," commentary in November 9 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Unfortunately no initiative of the SAARC has been successful. SAARC's success would have helped maintain the balance of power in the world. Not only that, South Asia would have emerged stronger than the so-called South East Asian tiger economies. Actually, SAARC did not succeed because its creation itself was a contradiction. Besides the India-Pakistan conflict, the relations among other countries were not as cordial as they are needed for an honest cooperation campaign. There are huge differences among the SAARC nations at economic and social levels. Also, China's role to de- link Pakistan and Nepal from the South-Asia cooperation efforts cannot be overlooked. Despite Pakistan's obstinacy, a practical solution can still be found. If the creation of the Euro did not stop without Britain, why should SAARC be impeded without Pakistan?" -------------- ARMS RACE -------------- ¶4. "ARMS TRADE, OBAMA AND US," editorial in November 9 right-of-center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "It is NEW DELHI 00002269 002 OF 002 surprising that the Nobel Peace Award is being given to President Obama despite American arms and ammunition trade registering a 4.75% rise during the first year of his regime. Both the seller and the buyer of arms are responsible for rise in arms trade. The countries pouring millions of dollars in America's bag, are none other than the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan. These countries are daggers drawn with their own brethren. In such a precarious situation, if American trade industry is progressing, what can the poor America do?" ROEMER