VZCZCXRO8796
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3376 3510934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170934Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7268
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BEIJING 003376
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 SENV KGHG KMDR OPRC CH
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CLIMATE CHANGE, TAIWAN, NORTH KOREA
--------------------
Editorial Quotes
--------------------
1. CLIMATE CHANGE
"Holding to the principle of shared but differentiated
responsibilities"
The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming
Ribao)(12/17)(pg 4): "The root cause and the nature of climate
change must be clarified before all the countries will reach
consensus; developed countries should be accountable for the
majority of greenhouse gas emissions. What's more, the carbon
emissions per capita of developing countries have been far less than
that of developed countries, not to mention the fact that many
industrial countries have contracted out carbon emissions to
developing countries. Ambassador Yu Qingtai, Chinese special envoy
for climate change negotiation, has clearly stated China's stance:
that China, due to the country's development of an economic society
and the uplifting of many people's living standard, will not limit
the Chinese people's rights to 1/3, 1/4 or even 1/5 of those of the
developed countries' people. To achieve our 2020 goal of reducing
carbon emissions by 45 percent per GDP compared to 2005, China needs
to invest USD$30 billion every year for the next ten years, which
means that each Chinese household would need to contribute USD$64.
The Chinese people would have to practice thrift savings at home in
order to make this happen."
2. TAIWAN
"Impulse behind the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan"
The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao)(12/17)(pg 10): "It
is rumored that the United States will sell arms to Taiwan. There
are always multiple forces behind the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
The huge military industry complex in the U.S. consisting of the
military, arms dealers and congressmen has formed a super interest
group that has almost 'kidnapped' the military policies of the U.S.
This includes arms sales to Taiwan. At the same time, there are
always groups of Hawks in U.S. foreign departments, their Congress
or their think tanks who consider China's rise as a threat and
continue to implement a containment policy against China. Taiwan is
still the U.S.'s best pawn used to contain China. Therefore,
selling arms to Taiwan meets the U.S.'s strategic needs. However,
the impulse to sell arms to Taiwan is not their real strategy.
Whether the United States intends to sell arms or is just making
noise will depend on the result of these complex political games."
3. NORTH KOREA
"South Korean media says North Korea will temporarily shut its doors
to foreigners"
The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/17)(pg 2): "In regard to the news that
North Korea will forbid foreigners from entering the country, media
speculates that North Korea is trying to manage the possible
internal chaos caused by its currency reform measures and to prevent
the expansion of the A/H1N1 flu. Experts said that these are North
Korea's regular year end measures and should not be worrisome. The
South Korean government is cautious concerning the news. A South
Korean official said that North Korea issued invitations to several
non-official South Korean groups who will be visiting North Korea
after December 20th. It requires further observation whether or not
North Korea will actually restrict foreigners from entering the
country. The South Korean military also considered the news an
indication of a dramatic change in North Korea. However, there
haven't yet been any unusual moves by the North Korean military.
Global Times reporters have also observed that even though North
Korea is undergoing a currency reformation, no internal chaos has
occurred. Many supermarkets and stores were in normal operations.
What's more, there were not too many A/H1N1 patients. It is
peaceful in Pyongyang and there has been no panic."
GOLDBERG