Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S. Diplomacy, Taiwan, China's Rise

VZCZCXRO8923
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #4324 3300916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250916Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1058
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 004324

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: OPRC KMDR CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. DIPLOMACY, TAIWAN, CHINA'S RISE

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S. DIPLOMACY

"Obama is not focused on China"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/25): "An American expert has said that in
the U.S., China studies programs are far less emphasized than
studies concerning Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. This
reflects China's position in the strategic blueprints of the U.S. It
also reflects the different feelings of the two countries. Each
country has different opinions, stances, and angles concerning
important topics. For example, when the Chinese media is concerned
about Obama's policy on China, public opinions in the U.S. are
concerned with who will be the next secretary of the treasury.
What's more, in the U.S. diplomatic system there is no specific
China policy team. China is just a part of Eastern Asian or
Asia-Pacific affairs. It is not possible, and not necessary, to make
China the focus of the new U.S. administration. After all, China is
not the ally of the U.S. and does not have common views with the
U.S."

2. TAIWAN

"The U.S. blackmails Taiwan with 'patriot' missile"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/25): "It was reported last week that the
U.S. had requested additional conditional support for the 6 billion
USD arm sale to Taiwan. Taiwan opinioned that: the most expensive
thing in the World is U.S. weapon sales. However, more and more
Taiwanese analysts indicate that the relations across the Strait are
warming up since Ma Ying-jeou became president. The possibility of a
cross-strait military conflict has greatly decreased. The Taiwanese
'legislative department' has strongly reacted to the increased of
price by the U.S. Arms sales Taiwan are the strangest arms sales in
the world. There is a debate about whether or not Ma Ying-jeou
should continue these 'arms purchasing at a sucker's price' at Chen
Shui-bian time. Mainland experts indicate that the status of the
cross-strait military confrontation will not change. The U.S. arms
sales to Taiwan will not stop, the U.S. will continue using Taiwan
to contain the Mainland."

3. CHINA'S RISE

"China cautiously faces glory in the international community"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/25): "China has quickly been given glory
in the international community because of its participation in two
big international conferences, the G20 Summit and APEC. The Chinese
government responded to this phenomenon modestly. China repeatedly
emphasized that theirs is a developing country. Western media opined
that China has behaved cautiously because China wants to play an
important role in the financial crisis. Chinese experts indicate
that China's economic strength has been exaggerated by the World,
and that the degree of China's opening up has been underestimated.
Chinese experts also indicate that China has reasons to maintain a
low-profile and be cautious. Although China develops fast, the
western part of China and the large area of countryside are still
under developed. Besides this, China is also engaged with many
serious issues brought on by the financial crisis. China's cautious
style in the face of this glory is also based on China's traditional
culture. Chinese culture emphasizes the 'middle of the road',
'moderation' and 'peace.'"

RANDT

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