C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000122

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2035
TAGS: PREL ECIN ASEAN APECO ARF XC XE XU
SUBJECT: POSITIVE OFFICIAL REACTION, MUTED PRESS REACTION
TO SECRETARY'S SPEECH ON ASIA-PACIFIC MULTILATERALISM

REF: A. STATE 2965

B. STATE 4128

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: An MFA official responded positively to the
Secretary's January 12 speech on Asian regional architecture,
inviting further bilateral discussion on how best to build
effective regional institutions. Stating that differences
among Asian states made an EU-like structure untenable, our
MFA interlocutor suggested the U.S. and the PRC work "step by
step" to develop durable regional institutions. PRC media
outlets offered limited reaction to the Secretary's speech,
viewing it primarily through the lens of recent bilateral
differences. END SUMMARY.

Positive Official Reaction
--------------


2. (C) The PRC viewed the Secretary's January 12 speech
positively and was interested in engaging with the United
States in further discussion on Asian regional architecture,
MFA Policy Planning Department International Situation
Analysis Division Director Chen Yanjun told EmbOffs January

14. The PRC did not seek to push the United States out of
Asia -- and did not have the capacity to do so even if it
wanted -- but rather sought to deepen cooperation with the
United States on developing strong regional structures. Chen
added that cooperation channels already existed in APEC and
other regional institutions that could potentially be
expanded. Chen highlighted ASEAN plus one (ASEAN plus China)
and ASEAN plus three (ASEAN plus China, Republic of Korean
and Japan) as effective regional structures.


3. (C) The PRC remained open to the eventual establishment of
one comprehensive Asian regional structure, but Asia was not
Europe, MFA's Chen said, noting that large disparities in
economic development as well as cultural and historical
differences made quick progress toward a European Union-like
structure unrealistic. Instead, Chen suggested, the PRC and
the United States should promote a gradual, step-by-step
approach in the development of durable Asian regional
structures.

Muted Media Reaction
--------------


4. (U) PRC media commentary on the Secretary's January 12
speech was sparse. PRC media viewed the speech primarily
through the prism of recent U.S.-PRC differences, with the
nationalistic Huanqiu Shibao (circ 1.5 million), a newspaper
sponsored by the Party daily, Renmin Ribao, commenting
January 14 that "Asia has become America's diplomatic
hornet's nest." (NOTE: This comment appears against the
backdrop of recent PRC media criticism of U.S. arms sales to
Taiwan.) The Beijing Youth Daily January 14 highlighted the
Secretary's statement that America's future is linked to the
future of the Asia-Pacific; and the future of the
Asia-Pacific depends on America.(Note: Embassy PAS sent more
in-depth media analysis to EAP/PD January 14.)
HUNTSMAN