MEDIA REACTION: U.S., U.S. - CHINA, ECONOMIC

UNCLAS BEIJING 000004 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: U.S., U.S. - CHINA, ECONOMIC -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S. "No breakthroughs on the DPRK/Iran nuclear issues can be achieved without the United States" The Beijing-based newspaper sponsored by official intellectual publication Guangming Daily and Guangdong Provincial official publication Nanfang Daily, The Beijing News (Xin Jing Bao)(01/03)(pg B09): "Although Iran's and the DPRK's stances are different, they are also the same, because both of them see the United States as their worst enemy and strike for equal say in their relations with the United States. Zhang Bo, a renowned military expert, said that in 2010, the Iran nuclear issue would continue to stir tensions if there are no improvements in its relations with the West. The Iranian government seems to get only tougher and tougher as it faces more and more sanctions. Zhang also said that the DPRK changed its attitude after the U.S. Special Envoy's visit and that the DPRK nuclear issue will continue improving. The DPRK's goal, according to Zhang, is to engage in direct talks with the United States and to eventually sign a peace agreement and even to establish formal diplomatic relations with the United States." ¶2. U.S. - CHINA "Will China and the U.S. turn against each other in 2010?" The international news commercial publication of the People's Daily, Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(01/04)(pg 16):"Shi Yinhong, the Director of the School of International Relations at Renmin University, said that the United States will sell arms to Taiwan sooner or later and President Obama will almost for sure meet the Dalai Lama. Obama just wants to choose the 'most appropriate' time and venue to do so with minimum negative impact. Chinese President Hu Jintao will probably visit the United States in April and it is unlikely that the United States would do anything harmful to China's interests during that time. Sun Zhe, a researcher from Tsinghua University argued that there is a 90-percent likelihood the arms sales to Taiwan, Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama and trade disputes will occur concurrently in the first quarter of this year. Tao Wenzhao, a professor at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that in 2010 China and the United States will be faced with a number of negative factors and frictions, but we should not be too pessimistic since there are still many positive factors between the two countries. Obama will be very cautious in dealing with sensitive issues involving China. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan should not include such a high-end weapon as the F-16 airplane. Obama will certainly not meet the Dalai Lama in the same high-profile way as French President Sarkozy did." ¶3. ECONOMIC "Sino-U.S. trade cloudy in 2009 and snowy in 2010" Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper, 21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(01/04)(pg 1):"The United States has finally ruled on imposing 'countervailing' duties on China's OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods) products, which is by far the largest U. S trade sanction against China. Whether or not the United States will impose 'anti-dumping' tariffs on China's OCTG products will be seen as an 'indicator' of the trade battle between China and the United States. Normally, one year to one year-and-a-half after economic recession, trade protectionism across the world reaches its peak, which means we will see frequent trade frictions in 2010. Chen Zhidong, an arbitrator for the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, said that many trade disputes originating from the United States are extensions of U.S. domestic politics. Chen argued that facing a 10% plus unemployment rate, reducing import and increasing export tops any U.S. president's political agenda." GOLDBERG