Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S.-China Military Relations, China's

VZCZCXRO0132
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2564 2510817
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080817Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5940
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 002564

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: U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS, CHINA'S
DIPLOMACY, AFGHANISTAN

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA MILITARY RELATIONS

"If U.S. insists on following its own course, there may be
conflicts"

The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal
(Shijie Xinwenbao)(09/08)(pg 24): "In recent years, the U.S. has
conducted frequent military surveillance operations near coastal
areas of China. According to the U.S. media, a new type of spy
plane, the EP-8, will soon replace the old EP-3. Since the EP-8 has
much more sophisticated capabilities than the EP-3, these U.S.
military activities will surely encounter strong opposition from
China. China has urged the U.S. to reduce, and even stop, its
constant air and sea surveillance operations in China's exclusive
economic zone. The U.S. Embassy's (in Beijing) Spokesperson, Susan
Stevenson, confirmed China's request, but stated that the U.S.
position has not changed. Experts argue that the U.S.'s
surveillance operations will increase the likelihood of China-U.S.
conflicts. The U.S. should first 'discipline' itself, and then
promote military cooperation with China."

2. CHINA'S DIPLOMACY

"China must grasp the opportunity provided by other countries'
strategic retreat"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/08)(pg 14): "Due to the impact of the
financial crisis on the global balance of power, the East-West issue
has become less important than the North-South issue. The financial
crisis has offered China and other newly-emerging countries an
opportunity to play a more important political and economic role in
the world. The financial crisis has greatly decreased overseas
demand for Chinese goods, which has in fact given China an
opportunity to adjust its economic structure and increase domestic
demand. China should make good use of the current conflicts and
shifting balances of power in the international community to gain a
strategic advantage for as long as possible. Whether or not China
can grasp this opportunity will depend on how China solves its own
issues. The primary issue for China to solve is the ten unbalanced
aspects of China's social development."

3. AFGHANISTAN

"U.S. facing a dilemma in Afghanistan"

The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming
Ribao)(09/08)(pg 8): "The Afghan election, which has been described
as the most democratic presidential election in Afghan's history, is
facing a dilemma. The current President, Hamid Karzai, has taken
the lead amid continuous complaints about the election from various
parties in the country. For the U.S., which eagerly wants to get
out of the war in Afghanistan, the election results are crucial.
Western publics believe Karzai's political performance has been
mediocre; the White House believes Karzai is not as obedient as
before; and U.S. politicians agree that Karzai is not the
appropriate candidate to effectively implement the Obama
administration's new strategy. Another presidential candidate,
Abdullah Abdullah, seems to curry more favor in the U.S. than
Karzai. However, if Karzai wins the election, Abdullah may call for
street battles to fight against the Karzai government. Thus, the
election will become the prelude to an Afghan civil war. As a
result, Afghanistan will become even more chaotic, leading to a
complete failure of Obama's new Afghanistan strategy. The Afghan
elections are at their most critical stage. No matter what the
result is the U.S. has to make a choice: either support Karzai or
face the collapse of the anti-Taliban alliance. This will be a
critical test for Obama's new strategy."

HUNTSMAN

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