INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Media Reaction: President Obama's Visit to Japan and China

Published: Mon 16 Nov 2009 08:56 AM
VZCZCXRO8763
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3121/01 3200856
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160856Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6848
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003121
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: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO JAPAN AND CHINA
--------------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------------
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO JAPAN AND CHINA
a. "Don't use the 'cold war' mentality to look at the U.S.'s return
to Asia"
The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(11/16)(pg 10): "In
fact, the U.S. Asian policy has been steadily moving forward.
'Returning to Asia' is only a continuation of the U.S.'s previous
Asian policy, not a completely different policy. It is too radical
to view the U.S. making friends in Asia as making enemies of China.
America's Asian diplomacy is first to fight for its own interests,
and then to contain China. In the future, China's economic strength
and regional influence will continuously increase in the region,
which will not be changed by the U.S.'s will. As East Asian nations
are deepening their mutual reliance and trust, the U.S. would better
learn to fit in and coordinate with them, rather than to dominate or
control them. Meanwhile, China should stay wary about the possible
challenges to China posed by the new U.S. policy towards Asia."
b. "Obama arrived in Shanghai in the rain; Are Sino-U.S. relations
re-defined?"
The Shanghai-based Shanghai Media Group (SMG) publication, China
Business News (Diyi Caijing)(11/16)(pg A1): "Obama has delivered his
first Asian policy speech since he took office in Tokyo. Obama, in
his speech, welcomed China to play a greater role in the world.
Obama said in Tokyo, 'The United States does not seek to contain
China.' Apart from expressing his 'strong friendliness' towards
China, Obama also addressed the economic imbalances between China
and the U.S. With regard to Obama's addressing of 'imbalances,'
Professor Chen Ping of the National Development Research Institute
of Beijing University argued that the discourse of 'global
imbalances' should be avoided in Sino-U.S. bilateral discussions.
Chen argued that if there are 'global imbalances,' the root cause to
this consequence is the unruly development of the U.S. financial
industry, which has led to the hollowing out of its domestic
industry. An economist, Xiang Songzuo, said that the RMB exchange
rate will be brought up again, which is the established policy of
the United States due to U.S. domestic politics. What's more,
Professor Yang Fuqiang, director of WWF's Global Climate Initiative
program, said that the U.S. has emphasized climate change, which is
a result of Congressional pressure, to certain extent. China could
take the chance to tell the United States about China's plans on
climate change and the two could start off from specific issues like
low-carbon city construction."
c. "The U.S. shows affection to China in seeking cooperation;
Maintains 'conjugal' relationship with Japan - Obama's Asia balance
leans towards China"
The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(11/16)(pg 1):
"President Obama is obviously visiting China with expectations,
regarding the long list of issues that he will discuss with Chinese
leaders. In September, the U.S. Deputy Secretary Sternberg brought
forward the idea of 'strategic reassurance' towards China, asking
China to ensure not to threaten the U.S. interests as it is rising.
Therefore, Obama's visit is like a visit of public relations. In
the aim of pacifying Japan, Obama said that deepening U.S. relations
with China will not impair relations with its allies. Japanese
experts said that Obama's speech in Japan is a good speech for
balancing China and Japan. Japanese media believes that, despite
small frictions, the United and States and Japan still have good
'conjugal relations.' Meanwhile, Obama is also showing affections
to China. His remarks before he set off for the visit reflect that
U.S.-China relations are beyond the bilateral, and embrace a larger
global perspective. Obama's remarks in Japan reflect the two-tier
structure of his Asian strategy. The first tier is to maintain
peace and stability in Asia through U.S. military presence in Japan.
The second tier is to share the benefit of economic development
with China through enhancing its relationship with China, which is a
pragmatic diplomacy."
d. "The new 'green exchange' between the United States and Japan"
Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper
21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(11/16)(pg 2):
"Obama's visit to Asia can be seen as the implementation of U.S.
diplomacy in emphasizing Asia. Though Japanese Prime Minister
Hatoyama advocated a policy of 'leaving the United States and
returning to Asia,' the U.S.-Japan alliance will not greatly change.
Another focus of Obama's visit to Japan, environmental protection
cooperation, is worth noting. Obama personally thinks his trip to
Asia is critical. Some people even said that the trip could even
BEIJING 00003121 002 OF 002
affect Obama's Presidential re-election. This is a bit exaggerated,
but not all unreasonable. Obama is now faced with mid-term
elections and if the U.S. unemployment rate continues to worsen, the
Democrats would be in a difficult situation. Obama cannot always
'worship' Keynesianism; he has to find the cornerstone for his new
administration. As the dollar hegemony is diminishing, climate
issues have become a turning point. It's not known whether U.S.
leadership in environmental technology would help it. Perhaps, what
would offer Obama a helping hand will be the 'green' rather than the
blue (the Democrats) and the red (the Republicans)."
HUNTSMAN
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media