Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S.-China Relations, U.S. Economy

VZCZCXRO2216
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2460 2390856
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270856Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5803
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 002460

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 KMDR OPRC CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, U.S. ECONOMY

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

a. "Does the U.S. condone CNN's interference in Taiwan issues? (pg
14)"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(08/27): "What is the real intention behind
the CNN poll on whether or not Ma Ying Jeou should step down? Media
always acts as if it is a guide for public opinions. What's more,
the CNN poll has had an obvious slant. This time, CNN has blatantly
poked its nose into other people's business. Even the media and
people of Taiwan find it hard to accept this behavior. The
political inclination of the CNN poll reflects three possibilities:
first, some of Taiwan's political organizations have infiltrated CNN
headquarters; second, some political groups may be influencing CNN's
correspondences in Taiwan; or third, there are many U.S.
Chinese-American political groups trying to influence U.S. policy on
China. In fact, the U.S. often uses 'soft power,' such as CNN, to
influence world opinion. Chinese media and people should be
vigilant about these moves by the U.S."

b. "Speculation as to what Obama might give to China during his
visit in November (pg 2)"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao) (08/27): "Zhang
Guopei of the U.S. Studies Institute at China's Academy of Social
Sciences said that one of the important tasks for the U.S.
Ambassador to China is preparing for President Obama's visit in
November. We hope that Ambassador Huntsman will achieve great deal
in U.S.-China business cooperation, trade dispute resolution and
U.S.-China cultural exchanges, in order to create a more positive
and harmonious environment for Obama's visit. Analysts speculate
that in the next couple of months, the U.S. might give China certain
benefits in order to create a better atmosphere in advance of
Obama's visit. For example, China and the U.S. might reach an
agreement concerning jointly developing new energy technology. Jin
Canrong of the Institute of International Studies at the People's
University of China believes that the best 'gift' that the U.S.
could give China would be offering it the 'market-economy
treatment.' He also indicates that a second 'gift' would possibly
be relaxing the limits on China's technology exports. Analysts'
further point out that in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, the
U.S. should avoid moving on issues like Tibetan independence, human
rights and arms sales to Taiwan. For example, Obama would not meet
the Dalai during his visit to the U.S. in October. Mr. Jin said
that U.S.-China relations have begun well and need to move forward
slowly."

2. U.S. ECONOMY

"Huge U.S. deficit becomes a difficult economic problem (pg A22)"

The official popular newspaper Beijing Youth Daily (Beijing
Qingnianbao)(08/27): "The U.S. government and Congress have issued
the highest-ever budget deficit predictions for the next ten years.
The predictions of the U.S. government and the Congress are
different from each other mainly because the White House made the
prediction assuming the government will not increase taxes while
Congress's predictions are based on the fact that the previous
administration's tax reductions will take effect by 2011. However,
analysts believe that these predictions are not always accurate and
will change based on future circumstances. It is foreseeable that
the budget deficit issue will continue to disturb the U.S. economy
for a long time."

HUNTSMAN

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