MEDIA REACTION: POTUS ASIA VISIT, U.S.-INDIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002349 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: POTUS ASIA VISIT, U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, PAKISTAN; 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. -------------- POTUS ASIA VISIT -------------- ¶1. "DIPLOMATIC FAILURE," op-ed in November 20 right-of- center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "China is becoming increasingly aggressive toward India. A new troublesome U.S.-China-India triangle has come into being in South Asia, with the China visit of President Obama and the Arunachal visit of Dalai Lama. The Obama Administration is hesitating to stand up in India's support, preferring to keep Beijing in good humor. The Obama administration is committed to strategic partnerships with India which are a part of the multi-million dollar defense deals, but it has also made it clear that this relationship will not be at the expense of the ties with China. While the Obama administration is developing a strategic partnership with China and Japan, it is hesitating to implement a similar US- Japan-India understanding, reached during the time of George Bush. An obsequious India will be kept satisfied with a state dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, meant to be a mere formality. While in Beijing, President Obama should have initiated a US-China-India security dialogue to solve India-China differences." ¶2. "WARMING UP TO CHINA, AT THE EXPENSE OF INDIA," editorial in November 19 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK BHASKAR: "President Obama has sacrificed U.S.-India friendship at the altar of U.S. ties with China. Doesn't Mr. Obama know India's sensitivities in matters relating to Pakistan? Lesson for India - in diplomacy, there are no friends. Nobody can help us, but ourselves. For that, we need to gain strength. PM Singh should remember this when he embarks on his U.S. visit this week." ¶3. "OBAMA PROSTRATING BEFORE CHINA," editorial in the left-of-center Marathi daily, APLA MAHANAR: "In what can be termed a complete volte face of U.S. President Barack Obama, he has overtly declared that China has complete control over Tibet. One is not much surprised by this statement because his pro-China stance was becoming clearer lately. But more surprising is the fact that he has asked China to take the lead in general in South Asia. In a way, Obama has acknowledged China's dominance in the region." ¶4. "OBAMA'S ASIA VISIT," editorial in November 20 Guwahati Assamese independent, ASAMIYA PRATIDIN: "The main objective of President Obama's recent Asia visit was to strengthen relations with China because America knows that it is no longer possible to expand its political and economic influence in the region by ignoring China. Obama's open support to Beijing's 'one China" policy and recognition of its role in peace and NEW DELHI 00002349 002 OF 002 stability of South Asia amply demonstrates that Washington wants to avoid any conflict with Beijing." ¶5. "U.S.-CHINA JOINT STATEMENT," editorial in November 20 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA KHABOR: "By recognizing China's mediatory role in Indo-Pak bilateral relations Obama showed how irresponsible his stand could be. His action not only hurt India's prestige but also demonstrated America's appeasement policy toward China." ¶6. "U.S. CLARIFICATION ON JOINT STATEMENT," editorial in November 20 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Following India's reaction over the U.S-China joint statement which confers Beijing a role to play for betterment of relations between India and Pakistan; a very quick clarification by the U.S saying that China ties not at India's cost, is quite satisfactory. Now this clarification should be considered as the crisis has totally been defused from the U.S side. However India is still waiting for a similar clarification from China, as New Delhi gives high importance to its relation with Beijing too. China should also clarify its stand on the U.S-China joint statement to avoid any tension between the two countries." -------------- U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL -------------- ¶7. "MANMOHAN IN OBAMA'S CLUTCH," editorial in November 19 Leftist Kolkata Bengali, GANASHAKTI: "The Obama Administration is trying to make India a stooge by cleverly robbing it of its freedom of pursuing nuclear research. If the Manmohan Singh government gives any written undertaking following Obama's terms that will amount to signing the NPT. There are still many more skeletons in the cupboards of Indo-U.S. strategic alliance indeed." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶8. "PAKISTAN: A KILLING FIELD" editorial in November 19 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center AMAR ASOM: "The consecutive suicide bombings have turned Pakistan into a killing field. The government and the administration have failed to curb the militant forces. Pakistan's political leadership has long patronized these fundamental elements in their own interest. This has created an unfortunate situation in which the Taliban and their allies are employing the country's poor and uneducated youth to carry out heinous attacks against their own people." WHITE