Cablegate: Media Reaction: Climate Summit, China Model

VZCZCXRO5024
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3222 3360934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020934Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7024
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 003222

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: CLIMATE SUMMIT, CHINA MODEL

--------------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------------

1. CLIMATE SUMMIT

a. "U.S. emissions reduction sincerity is doubtful"

Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper
21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(12/02)(pg 2):
"China, who insists on continuing common but differentiated
responsibilities for the Copenhagen conference, is unwilling to
sacrifice its goal of 'development being the primary task' for the
total emissions reduction and therefore adopting 'carbon density
tactic.' At present, China's carbon emissions are about 6.5 billion
tons in total, the country's per capita carbon emissions are up to
4.5 tons. The subtleness of carbon density lies in the calculation
method which consists of the GDP, carbon emissions and exchange
rates. Because the carbon density will finally be calculated in
dollars, China could achieve their standard based on the appreciated
RMB exchange rate. Otherwise, it is a very difficult task to rely on
technological advances to reduce per unit carbon emissions by 45%
for China. In contrast, the United States' total emissions
reduction target is outrageous and the U.S. per capita carbon
emissions are up to 19 tons, which is four times more than that of
China, while their unit carbon emission is about 0.7 tons. In other
words, the key to the United States' emissions reduction lies in the
per capita 'conspicuous consumption' of energy. The Obama
administration's target of 'reducing 4% emissions as compared to
1990' is a goal with no sincerity, which is not only far lower than
that of the Europe and Japan, its realization difficulties are far
below China's."

b. "China hoped the Copenhagen Conference would achieve 'fair and
feasible' results"

The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao)(12/02)(pg
3): "Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said 'China's
fundamental stance on the issue is abiding by the UN framework
convention on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, insisting on
the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' and
sticking to the Bali Roadmap. All developing countries' concerns on
climate change deserve great attention and the sincere consideration
of the developed countries and the entire international society. On
the one hand, developed nations should honor their commitments to
accomplishing or establishing the medium-term emissions reduction
targets, and on the other hand provide developing nations with
financing, technology transfer, and capability building support."

2. CHINA MODEL

"U.S.-China joint statement confirms 'China road'"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/02)(pg 14): "The U.S.-China joint
statement has confirmed that, between the United States and China,
there are two development models. The statement also recognized the
legitimate and legal positions of these two models of social
development. This is a common view reached concerning different
development directions for different social systems and different
civilizations. Therefore, the statement factually and politically
is equal to announcing the end of 'Western civilization-oriented
theory', which means that one can now create a broad vision for the
development of mankind's social systems and civilizations. Not
following the West's political system and model represents China's
Communist Party's courage, insight and insistence of over the issue
of mankind's civilization model. The fact that a 'China road' has
been affirmed by the U.S.-China Joint Statement only 200 years after
the 'historical termination theory ' was produced, gives the theory
historical significance and realistic value. Therefore it is the
urgent task of Chinese intellectuals to extract and conclude any
core values from the current China road."

HUNTSMAN

© Scoop Media