Cablegate: Media Reaction: China's Threat, Financial Crisis

VZCZCXRO3444
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #4251 3230907
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180907Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0917
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 004251

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: OPRC KMDR CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CHINA'S THREAT, FINANCIAL CRISIS

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Editorial Quotes
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1. CHINA'S THREAT

"China has constructed an aircraft carrier; the story heats up"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/18): "Recently the director of the Foreign
Affair's Office of China's Ministry of National Defense indicated
that the World should not be surprised if China constructs an
aircraft carrier. However, China will only use this type of military
fleet vessel in naval defense. Some opinions indicate that once
China possesses an aircraft carrier, the theory of the China threat
will heat up again. Another Chinese expert indicates that it is
unfair that the West is paying special attention to the possibility
of China constructing an aircraft carrier. This move has aroused
suspicions and worries about China's strategic intentions. A
military officer believed that it is the strategic intention behind
possessing the aircraft carrier that matters, not whether or not
China has an aircraft carrier. In the future, if China has possessed
an aircraft carrier, China will not use it to conduct regional
deterrence, but only to promote regional peace and stability. The
improvement of China's national strength can only bring more
stability to the Asia-Pacific region."

2. FINANCIAL CRISIS

"Don't let conspiracy theories block the view"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/18): "China's economy has been impacted by
the U.S. financial crisis since China has also bought some American
bonds and because of the declining trade with developed countries.
The U.S. should take the main responsibility for this. However, it
doesn't mean that this crisis is a conspiracy conducted by the West
against China. Such a mentality will influence China's judgment on
many issues. If China continues to embrace the views of the last
half a century when looking at the world, China will find it very
difficult to grasp the right development trend in the world. The
concept of a harmonious world represents the trend in modern
development. China should stand taller and look farther into the
future."

RANDT

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