INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S. Policy, North Korea, China-Japan

Published: Wed 14 Oct 2009 09:07 AM
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R 140907Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6427
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BEIJING 002863
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)
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TAGS: PREL ECON KMDR OPRC CH
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. POLICY, NORTH KOREA, CHINA-JAPAN
RELATIONS
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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S. POLICY
"Looking into the hidden truth about Obama's first Asia trip"
Elite Reference (Qingnian Cankao), a newspaper affiliated with the
official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (10/13)(pg 14):
"On Obama's first trip to Asia, his attendance at the U.S.-ASEAN
summit in Singapore is meant to show the U.S.'s return to East Asia
in all aspects and it indicates the fact that East Asia plays
important role in Obama's new diplomacy. He will stay in China for
three days, the longest stay during his visit to Asia. However, why
does not Obama visit Indonesia, his step-father's hometown? The
U.S. and Indonesia have not reached an agreement on establishing a
bilateral strategic partnership. The Indonesia-U.S. relationship
has not yet been raised to a strategic level. At the same time,
Obama realizes that currently there is strong anti-U.S. sentiment in
Indonesia, so he may wish to wait and visit later. Obama may visit
Indonesia next year to establish a strategic partnership, which will
have far-reaching influence on U.S.-East Asia relations. Better
relations with Indonesia, a country with the largest Muslim
population in the world, can help the U.S. to improve its image in
the Muslim world and may help in resolving the Afghanistan and
Israel-Palestine issues for the U.S."
2. NORTH KOREA
"The U.S. media believes North Korea is not a paper tiger"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(10/14)(pg 16): "The Chinese Foreign Ministry
Spokesperson said that China believes the launch of five short-range
missiles by North Korea will not impact steps to alleviate the
situation on the Korean peninsula. Dai Xu, a Chinese military
expert, said that North Korea is only conducting regular military
activities to show its independence and to express its feelings,
which reveals the complexity of the North Korea nuclear issue. The
launch will not negatively impact the international situation. Lu
Chao at Liao Ning Academy of Social Science believed that North
Korea was not purposefully trying to increase tension. North Korea's
motive may have been to demonstrate its might to South Korea,
however the timing of the missile launch is odd and makes people
wonder about North Korea's true motive."
3. CHINA-JAPAN RELATIONS
"It is very important for China to maintain good relations with
multiple Japanese parties to promote a strategic and mutually
beneficial Sino-Japanese relationship"
Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper
21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(10/14)(pg 3):
"Lu Yaodong, deputy director of the department of Japanese studies
at China Academy of Social Science, commented that the Communist
Party of China has been dedicated to developing good relations with
Japanese political parties, both the Liberal Democratic Party and
the Democratic Party of Japan, whether in office or not, and has
successfully established formal exchange systems with both.
Maintaining good relations with multiple Japanese parties is very
important for pushing forward a strategic and mutually beneficial
China-Japan relationship. Professor Sun Zhongtao, at the Party
School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said that Japan is the
only victim of nuclear weapons in the 20th century; therefore, it is
understandable that Japanese politicians consciously promote a
nuclear-free world. However, China is different from Japan which is
under the protection of U.S. nuclear umbrella, and needs to have the
most basic nuclear deterrent force. Therefore, nuclear disarmament
is not an issue for China."
HUNTSMAN
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