MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, WAR ON TERROR, NORTH

UNCLAS BEIJING 000067 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.-CHINA RELATIONS, WAR ON TERROR, NORTH KOREA -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS a. "China declares anti-missile interception successful" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(01/12)(pg 1): "Experts said that this is the first time that China has announced its anti-missile experiment results to the world. A Global Times poll revealed that 99% Chinese netizens are supportive of China's anti-missile system. Yang Chengjun, a missile expert, said that China's actions are not directed against any country. However, the actions of some countries, whose actions undermine China's peaceful reunification, are also noteworthy. China's timely showcase of some of its strength sends the signal that China is not only determined, but that it also has the ability and means to protect its national security and core interests. Professor Jin Canrong at People's University of China said that he thinks China's anti-missile interception experiment is irrelevant to U.S. sales of Patriot-3 missiles to Taiwan because that missile is defensive, not offensive. He also said that China has the right to develop an anti-missile system, which is a necessary step for its military modernization. China always advocates for a defensive military strategically. The anti-missile system doesn't change this; it strengthens it." b. "U.S.-China relations need to overcome trade frictions" The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal (Shijie Xinwenbao)(01/12)(pg 2): "A trade war between the United States and China would be a catastrophe for international trade and the two countries. This is the biggest concern of the 'post financial crisis' era. If China retaliates, U.S. companies within China will complain, which will be too hard for Obama to handle. Therefore, the United States should not be too complacent or too demanding when trading with China. Under these circumstances, mainstream scholars should not take actions which are against the general trend, such as stating one's irrational opinions on the issue. Meanwhile, Sino-U.S. relations are not so easily talked ill of by one or two scholars. No matter what, the relationship needs to overcome its trade frictions." ¶2. WAR ON TERROR "A large-scale encirclement and suppression of Al Qaeda in Yemen: at present the U.S. government has no intention of sending U.S. troops to Yemen" The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao)(01/12)(pg 3): " Giving up on sending troops to Yemen meets the U.S. counterterrorism strategy's new requirements. Since Obama took the office, he made a major adjustment to the previous U.S. counterterrorism strategy of President Bush's time, withdrawing troops from Iraq and emphasizing the improvement of the U.S.' image in the Islamic world. Sending troops to Yemen will undoubtedly influence the global counterterrorism deployment of the U.S. What's more, regarding Yemen's complicated geographic situation, by not sending troops to Yemen the United States can avoid another 'Afghan War'. Not sending troops also shows that, due to the lack of counterterrorism resources, the United States does not have very many choices." ¶3. NORTH KOREA "The economy of the DPRK remains slow; sanctions urgently need to be lifted" The Beijing-based newspaper sponsored by official intellectual publication Guangming Daily and Guangdong Provincial official publication Nanfang Daily The Beijing News (Xin Jing Bao)(01/12)(pg A24): "Jin Canrong, the Deputy Dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University, said there are three reasons that the DPRK expressed willingness to rejoin the Six-Party Talks. First, the DPRK leaders need the international community to lift sanctions so that the DPRK economy can recover. Second, the attitudes of the United States toward the DPRK have changed and the two countries may privately make mutual promises. Third, China, as a mediator, has made great efforts to coordinate with the United States and the DPRK. Professor Jin also said that more sincerity from the United States is needed if substantial results are expected to be achieved from the Six-Party Talks. The current, temporary, truce agreement between North and South Korea doesn't have legal binding power. Only when North Korea signs a peace agreement with South Korea, can the U.S. consider it official." HUNTSMAN