Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S. Southeast Asia Policy, Nuclear

VZCZCXRO5637
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2785 2710852
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280852Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6267
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 002785

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. SOUTHEAST ASIA POLICY, NUCLEAR
DISARMAMENT, IRAN

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S. SOUTHEAST ASIA POLICY

"U.S. strategy for returning to Southeast Asia is gradually becoming
clear"

The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming
Ribao)(09/28)(pg 12): "At the G20 summit, President Obama said he
wanted to hold the first ASEAN-U.S. summit in Singapore in November.
This is another step the U.S. has taken to adjust its East Asia
policy. Since the beginning of the year, the U.S. has made a number
of diplomatic moves in Southeast Asia, which highlight the fact that
its overall strategy for returning to Southeast Asia is beginning to
take shape. For example, on September 24, Secretary Clinton said
that the U.S. will adjust its policy on Burma from implementing
sanctions to establishing contacts. This new U.S. relationship with
Burma is seen as a breakthrough for the U.S.'s strategy in the
region. All these diplomatic moves by the U.S. are aimed at
countering China's increasing influence in East Asia. In the next
several years, the U.S. will further increase its level of
cooperation with ASEAN countries. Its strategy toward four
countries in particular - Vietnam, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia -
deserves China's attention."

2. NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

"UNSCR 1887 emphasizes 'nonproliferation' but neglects 'nuclear
disarmament'"

The Beijing-based newspaper sponsored by official intellectual
publication Guangming Daily and Guangdong Provincial official
publication Nanfang Daily The Beijing News (Xin Jing Bao)(09/26)(pg
A22): "The passing of UN Security Council Resolution 1887
demonstrates the world's common stance on eliminating nuclear
threats in all countries. The resolution has been welcomed by those
advocating weapons control and has brought urgently-needed emphasis
to the dangers of nuclear weapons, technology, and proliferation
around the world. It is also seen as a recognition of Obama's
proposal for 'a world free of nuclear weapons.' However, experts
argued that the resolution may encounter opposition within the U.S.
itself. And, although the resolution is indeed historic and shows
that the UN Security Council has a key responsibility in addressing
nuclear threats, critics point out that it did not contain
requirements that nations take measures to achieve nuclear
disarmament."

3. IRAN

"China does not like the phrase 'punish'"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/27)(pg 1): "Iran is the country the West
has the hardest time taming, so the West has now shifted its
pressure onto China. According to a Global Times poll, 20% of
Chinese netizens support Chinese sanctions against Iran, while 80%
oppose such sanctions. China has important oil interests in Iran,
but no one in China would want Iran to be able to make atomic bombs.
China's attitude on the Iran issue is contradictory. Scholar Yin
Zheng at the China Academy of Social Sciences argued instead that
China's stance on the Iran issue is clear: first, the international
non-proliferation regime must be respected; and second, the issue
must be resolved politically. Another scholar Wang Feng said that
China's energy cooperation with Iran did not violate the new UN
Security Council resolution on Iran. Professor Jin Canrong at the
People's University of China argued that if the UN really implements
sanctions on Iran, China will finally take action together with the
West since China must respect the mainstream opinion in the Arab
world: that of the Sunnis. Dr. Zhao Guojun at the Shanghai Academy
of Social Science said that China advocates independent diplomacy
and will not follow the West's lead. China has the power to differ
from the West and make its own decisions, in compliance with the
interests of the international community."

HUNTSMAN

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