MEDIA REACTION: CHINA POLICY, U.S. POLICY, AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS BEIJING 000011 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: PREL ECON SENV KGHG KMDR OPRC CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CHINA POLICY, U.S. POLICY, AFGHANISTAN -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. CHINA POLICY "China and its neighbors should build a wealth zone on the land" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(01/05)(pg 2):"The China-ASEAN free trade area will significantly reduce this region's dependence on Western markets and capital and 1.9 billion people will benefit. The free trade area is one fruitful result from China's good-neighborly relations with neighboring countries. From a security point of view, unlike Africa or Latin America, China's neighboring areas are out of U.S. control and hegemony in the sea. If managed carefully, any results China will achieve in this region will be easily maintained. The United States, the greatest sea power, would like the world's wealth to flow along with the oceans. But the oceans are not of the highest importance to China's interests. China, a traditional land power, should promote all kinds of cooperative zones with its neighbors, such as China-Pakistan free trade area, China- North East Asia free trade area and China- Russia- Central Asia free trade area." ¶2. U.S. POLICY "Will Yemen become the next counterterrorism 'battlefield'?" Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper, 21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(01/05) (pg 2):"Since the Christmas terror attempt, President Obama never formally discussed whether or not the United States will intervene in Yemen. Obama was trying to bide his time before making any decisions. Therefore, unfortunately, U.S. intelligence services have become the target of public criticism. In fact, although U.S. security has done a pretty good job, as long as the work is done by humans, 100% security cannot be guaranteed. Since the president was elected, Barack Obama has always stressed the need to 'change,' suggesting that the United States should extend an olive branch rather than resort to war. Obama, who was just awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, found himself embarrassed to have to send troops to Afghanistan, not to mention that the United States is now heavily in debt. It is not easy for Obama to start a third war in Yemen. But if he chose not to do anything, he will inevitably be criticized by the Republican Party, which will consequently affect the mid-term elections at the end of this year. Let us put aside the fact that the United States has been overstretched financially and militarily. More troublesome that Yemen is just as much of a muddy quagmire as Iraq and Afghanistan, which, once entered, and cannot easily be left. At present, the issue of how to deal with Yemen is a fairly disturbing issue for Obama. Obama's olive branch is about to wither." ¶3. AFGHANISTAN "We should use Afghanistan as a strategic tradeoff" The international news commercial publication of the People's Daily, Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(01/05) (pg 14):"The United States is seeking China's help to deal with Afghanistan, which indicates that future China-U.S. relations may develop into a strategic partnership. Cooperation makes China happy but we should also stay aware of the fact that the U.S. 'containing China' policy has not fundamentally changed. Afghanistan may become the new United States strategic platform to contain China. When helping the United States get out of their predicament in Afghanistan, since China has been already tied to the United States on multiple strategic issues, is China tying itself up again? If the United States really wants China to help in Afghanistan, it must make compromises, to at least some extent, on strategic issues including Xinjiang, Tibet, Taiwan, and so on. The United States must make a clear commitment to withdraw U.S. and NATO troops out of Afghanistan once the war finishes." GOLDBERG