VZCZCXRO4600
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #4525 3471004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121004Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1370
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BEIJING 004525
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.-CHINA RELATIONS, FINANCIAL CRISIS
--------------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------------
1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS
a. "The U.S. voices 'emphasizing China' have suddenly increased"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/12): "The U.S. Department of the Treasury
has issued its last review on foreign exchange rate policy before
the close of the Bush Administration. In this report, China has not
been listed as a country that manipulates its exchange rate.
Analysts think that China is not listed because the present
administration would like to avoid creating difficulties for the new
government. Therefore, the Bush Administration avoided offending
China before leaving the White House. At the same time, the U.S.
media has increasingly voiced the fact that it believes the U.S. and
China are coming closer. The world setup is complicated. China is a
new player in this game of chess whose foundation is not yet stable.
China needs to listen to other country's evaluations of itself. The
recent positive comments by the U.S. on China are much better than
the recent negative French comments about China. However, Chinese
analysts are concerned about how long the U.S.-China relationship
will be coming closer and closer, and how far the relationship will
go."
b. "The U.S. relationship with China enters a time when it is like a
'man in his 30s'"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/12): "It is interesting to look at the
Development of U.S.-China relations, since the establishment, from
the perspective of American Think-tanks. Looking deeply at the
Think-tank's reports over the last three decades, one can see the
gradual maturity of the U.S. Government's policies on China.
Compared to the U.S. think-tanks' opinions on China in 1980s and
1990s, 'the theory of a complicated China' in 21st century reflects
the passion, confusion and caution usually seen in men nearing the
age of 30. This mentality leads to more issues between the two
countries that must be dealt with in the next 10 years. It is
therefore hoped that the bilateral relationship will be more mature
in the next 10 years."
2. FINANCIAL CRISIS
"China is not yet capable of influencing the World"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/12): "The current U.S. financial crisis
provides China an opportunity. China needs to make use of this
opportunity to enlarge its international influence. It's important
for China to correctly recognize and use the current opportunity.
China needs to have an appropriate evaluation on it's strength and
position. The most urgent task for China is not enlarging its
international influence, but to solve problems in its own
international and sustainable development. What's more, China needs
to correctly recognize the U.S. situation and direction. The U.S. is
facing an adjustment, but will not decline. Furthermore, China
should be aware of how newly-rising countries transfer their
strength into influence, making use of the opportunities. ...China
should gradually expand its influence into the international society
through the international system. Based on the principle of
consistent duties and rights, China will bear more international
responsibility and require more rights for its own opinions at the
same time."
PICCUTA