Cablegate: Media Reaction: Congressional Human Rights Report,

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RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2904 2920905
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190905Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6481
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 002904

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)
SIPDIS

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TAGS: PREL ECON KMDR OPRC CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT,
'POISONOUS DRYWALL,' SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COOPERATION

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Editorial Quotes
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1. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

"It is hard for the U.S. Congress to change its view on China"

The official Xinhua News Agency international news publication
International Herald Leader (Guoji Xianqu Daobao) (10/19)(pg 4): "On
October 16, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China issued a
'Human Rights Report on China.' The Chinese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs believes that the report is full of ignorance and prejudice.
The Commission should stop issuing reports that distort the facts
and interfere in China's internal affairs. Experts note the irony
that the report's data are not from the Chinese government or the
UN, but rather come from a variety of channels that are not
authoritative. Zhang Liping, Director of the Office of U.S. Studies
at the China Academy of Social Sciences, said that the reason that
the Commission issues such a report every year is to try to maintain
its influence over China and to prevent the White House from gaining
a monopoly on diplomatic initiatives with China. However, the
report's influence is limited. Since Obama currently needs
cooperation from China, he will not easily swing the human rights
stick at China like his processors did."

2. 'POISONOUS DRYWALL'

"The U.S. wants compensation from China for 'poisonous walls'"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(10/19)(pg 11): "Zhou Shijian at the China
Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said that
the U.S. needs to issue an authoritative report [on the toxic
drywall issue] that is recognized by both the U.S. and China.
Chinese products exported to the U.S. have to go through three
checks: Chinese quality control, the Chinese Exports Inspection
Department, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If the walls
are really poisonous, then both the U.S. and China are responsible.
The U.S. should not blame China. According to an American
consulting company, the toxic drywall issue will cause $1.5
billion-$2.5 billion in economic losses. Zhou argued that any
compensation should be based on an authoritative report. However,
due to the complexity of the technology involved and insufficient
resources, it is still unclear when such a drywall report can be
issued."

3. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COOPERATION

"Central and South Asia are increasing interactions"

The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao)
(10/19)(pg 3): "There are three reasons that the level of
interaction between Central and South Asia is increasing. First,
the situation in Afghanistan is a common concern for both regions.
Both Central Asia and South Asia are willing to create a better
environment for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Second, both
regions can further their geopolitical interests through
cooperation. India and Pakistan both want to expand their influence
in the region and are also eager for [access to] the region's
plentiful oil and mineral resources. Through South Asia, Central
Asia can open a door to the outside world and decrease its
dependence on Russia. Third, the U.S. is also working behind the
scenes, pushing for collaboration between the two regions in order
to advance its own interests. The new U.S. strategy on Afghanistan
and Pakistan involves seeking a 'radical resolution' to the
Afghanistan issue. The U.S. is happy to see 'resource cooperation'
between India and Pakistan and Central Asia. Therefore, it is
undeniable that cooperation between the two regions will have
far-reaching influence on European and Asian geopolitics."

HUNTSMAN

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