Cablegate: Media Reaction: Congressional Human Rights Report, Obama

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RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2910 2931021
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201021Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6493
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 002910

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: CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, OBAMA
VISIT, EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY

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Editorial Quotes
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1. CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

"Chinese Foreign Minister asks the U.S. to stop interfering in
China's internal affairs"

Elite Reference (Qingnian Cankao), a newspaper affiliated to the
official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (10/20) (pg 1):
"Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said that the
Congressional-Executive Commission on China's annual report distorts
the facts and interferes in China's affairs. We (China) suggest the
Commission stop interfering in China's affairs and damaging
U.S.-China relations. Experts said that the [Commission's human
rights] report will produce antipathy among the Chinese people
towards U.S. interference in China's affairs. Given the one hundred
year of history of being invaded by foreign imperial countries, the
Chinese people's sensitivity to the interference of foreign
countries is deep-rooted. Although the U.S. Congress claims that it
is concerned about China's human rights, it allocates money to the
separatists who plotted the March 14 and July 5 violent incidents.
The Chinese people believe that the attention the U.S. pays to
China's human rights is driven by ulterior motives. The
Commission's human rights report is biased by only giving the view
of one side, that of the separatists and terrorists. Such a report
will not benefit the building of mutual trust between the
governments and peoples of the two countries."

2. OBAMA VISIT

"Obama should warm up before visiting China"

The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal
(Shijie Xinwenbao)(10/20)(pg 2): "The U.S. should not expect to be
rewarded merely for not labeling China as a currency manipulator.
The U.S. has no basis on which to judge whether or not China has
manipulated the exchange rate, because China is adopting a floating
exchange rate under governmental supervision. The U.S. decision,
though, is still wise since, given the current financial crisis, a
trade or exchange rate war would not help any country. At this
time, the U.S. needs China more than we need them. Today, although
the volume of U.S. imports is decreasing, the percentage of 'made in
China' products in the U.S. market is increasing. The U.S. also
expects China to purchase more government bonds to maintain the
value of the U.S. dollar. The success of Obama's upcoming visit to
China will depend on what measures the U.S. takes to 'warm up' the
visit, all of which must be sincere."

3. EAST ASIAN COMMUNITY

"U.S. worries about not being able to join the East Asian
Community"

The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal
(Shijie Xinwenbao)(10/20)(pg 4): "On October 14, while in Beijing,
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs
Kurt Campbell said that any important organization related to
security, economy, or trade [in East Asia] should not exclude the
U.S. The U.S. will participate in these types of organizations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said, 'Cooperation
in the Asia-Pacific region is a necessary result of economic
globalization and regional economic integration. The region's
variety has led to the emergence of a multilateral mechanism in the
region. China is happy to see the constructive role of the U.S. in
regional peace, stability, and development, and is ready to step up
coordination and cooperation with the U.S. in Asia-Pacific affairs.'
Experts believe that Ma's remarks do not indicate Chinese support
for U.S. participation in the [East Asia Community] organization,
nor do they confirm Campbell's earlier comment about China
recognizing U.S. participation. Campbell's statement may be a test
of China's position and an indication of the U.S.'s anxiety [over
the East Asian Community proposal]."

HUNTSMAN

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