UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SHANGHAI POSITIVE ABOUT SECRETARY'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000115

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN ETRD PHUM CH TW
SUBJECT: UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SHANGHAI POSITIVE ABOUT SECRETARY'S
VISIT, CAUTIOUS ABOUT FUTURE RELATIONS

REF: SHANGHAI 41


1. (SBU) Summary: Secretary Clinton's visit to China in
February and her comment that "we are in the same boat" left
many university students in Shanghai with a positive impression,
hopeful of future bilateral cooperation on the economic crisis
and climate change. Students in several roundtable discussions
were generally optimistic about future bilateral relations but
expressed concern that sensitive issues like human rights,
Tibet, Taiwan, and trade protectionism could obstruct positive
cooperation on other fronts. One could also sense underlying
anger at what some students view as an economic crisis created
by the United States. End summary.


2. (SBU) Poloff held separate roundtable discussions in
Shanghai with students at Fudan University, Jiaotong University,
Tongji University, and Shanghai International Studies University
(SISU) in February and March. The discussions involved a total
of nearly 40 undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students, most
majoring in international relations, public policy, political
science, and finance. This is the first of two reports on
discussions with university students. The second report will
focus on Shanghai student perspectives on China's future and job
prospects (see septel).

Secretary's Visit Leaves Positive Impression
--------------

3. (SBU) These university students in Shanghai told Poloff that
they view Secretary's Clinton's visit to China in February a
"success" because it laid the foundations for future discussion
and cooperation between the two countries. The visit drew much
attention in China, as the Secretary is seen as a "star" by many
Chinese. One student said the Secretary appeared "powerful and
sociable" during her visit. Although one MA student at Tongji
University thought the timing of the visit was not ideal given
the Chinese leadership's focus at the time on preparations for
the National People's Congress (NPC) and Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in early March, other
students thought the timing was good, since it established a
high level working relationship at an early stage of the new
U.S. administration.


4. (SBU) Many students were impressed by the Secretary's use of
Chinese proverbs. A PhD student from Fudan University said the
Secretary's comment that "we are in the same boat" and "we are
rowing in the same direction" particularly struck a positive
chord with many Chinese, giving them a sense of "common destiny
and interdependence." Other students added that the Secretary's
visit provided a powerful symbol of bilateral cooperation. Some
students, however, said they thought the visit was more symbolic
than substantive, the most substantive part being the
announcement to continue a high-level strategic dialogue, which
many Shanghai scholars and students view as one of the key
successes of the Bush Administration's China policy (reftel).
Even if there was little substance to the visit, said one MA
student at Fudan, the "most important thing" for the Secretary
this time was "to listen" rather than just criticize China on
issues like human rights and Tibet. Many students said they
were pleasantly surprised the Secretary did not publicly raise
these sensitive issues with the Chinese leaders.

Cautious About Future Relations
--------------

5. (SBU) Most of the students told Poloff they are generally
optimistic about the future of U.S.-China relations. They
emphasized the need for greater bilateral cooperation in
combating the economic crisis and climate change, and they were
happy to see these issues highlighted during the Secretary's
visit. Regarding climate change in particular, the students
were optimistic that President Obama would take the lead in
forging a global consensus, some hoping the United States will
show "signs of commitment" to this issue in the near future. At
the same time, however, several students said it will take time
for China to "turn green" and that the world should be patient
with China.


6. (SBU) Uncertainties, however, remain in the bilateral
relationship over sensitive issues like human rights, Tibet, and
Taiwan, said several students. Some expressed their hope that

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the United States can talk to China about human rights in ways
that can help China improve its situation rather than alienate
it. Several students pointed to Taiwan as the central sticking
point in U.S.-China relations. The cross-Strait situation will
not be resolved for several decades, said one MA student at
Tongji, but the United States should just let both sides
continue to talk. An MA student at Jiaotong University thinks
China remains suspicious of U.S. intentions regarding Taiwan and
said China should "keep a close eye" on the United States
(vis-`-vis Taiwan),even if overall bilateral relations improve.



7. (SBU) Several students expressed concern that the
Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress will formulate tough trade
policies on China. With the Democrats in power, increased
protectionism could become a "short-term obstacle" to good
relations, said a PhD student from Fudan University. Some
students also expressed concern (and a certain degree of
misunderstanding, which Poloff tried to clarify) over the "Buy
American" provision in the U.S. fiscal stimulus package.
Several students emphasized that most Chinese people want to be
friends with the United States but that it is up to the United
States to reciprocate through its actions on some of these
sensitive issues.

Comment
--------------

8. (SBU) The student roundtables were conducted as open,
informal conversations with minimal "adult" supervision. The
Jiaotong and SISU discussions were held without the presence of
any professors while one Fudan professor and one Tongji
professor, both already well-known to Poloff, were present at
the Fudan and Tongji roundtables. The students represent a
microcosm of thinking at some of these elite universities in
Shanghai. Although most were positive about Secretary Clinton's
visit to China and the future of U.S.-China relations, when
discussion shifted to the effects of the economic crisis on
their own lives and job prospects (to be reported septel),one
could sense underlying anger at what some of these students view
as a crisis created by the United States.
CAMP