Cablegate: Media Reaction: Climate Change, Afghanistan, China-Central

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R 180948Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7297
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003398

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HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)
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TAGS: PREL ECON SENV KGHG KMDR OPRC CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CLIMATE CHANGE, AFGHANISTAN, CHINA-CENTRAL
ASIA RELATIONS

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Editorial Quotes
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1. CLIMATE CHANGE

a. "Climate change poses a threat to global security"

The official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (Zhongguo
Qingnianbao)(12/18)(pg 10): "Climate change poses a greater threat
to the world than terrorism. This is not just an alarmist view
since climate change will lead to increased competition between
countries over resources, which may lead to conflict and war. The
role of the military in the future will be challenged as
unconventional security threats posed by climate change increase.
In addition to emissions reductions, militaries should decrease, or
give up completely, their usage of 'climate weapons,' which,
although satisfying short-term military goals, will ultimately cause
long-term damage to the earth by changing natural conditions.
Climate change directly influences mankind's survival and,
therefore, will also inevitably influence global security. From a
military angle, combating global warming requires not only a sense
of environmental protection, but also requires that all countries be
cautious about the possibility of war."

b. "The United States is despotic at Copenhagen"

The official Communist Youth League China Youth Daily (Zhongguo
Qingnianbao)(12/18)(pg 5): "Three incidents that occurred at the
Copenhagen Conference - the delay of the meeting of the Ad Hoc
Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action, the change of the
conference chairwoman, and the release of the Danish draft agreement
- all reflect the United States' overweening mentality. Another
incident that occurred at the gate of the conference's main venue on
December 16 was further proof of this attitude. While people were
waiting outside in extremely cold temperatures in the security
screening line, which was progressing very slowly, the American
delegates at the conference got approval to enter the venue through
the exit door without waiting in line, which caused people to 'boo'
at them. Rajendra Pachauri, the Chairwoman of the UN
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who was also waiting in
line, wore the expression of someone who could do nothing about it."

2. AFGHANISTAN

"Afghanistan is not China's battlefield"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(12/18)(pg 15): "Despite all the reasons
outlined by people who support China's sending of troops to
Afghanistan, such as protecting China's economic interests and
establishing a good image for China, China's international and
military strategies are defensive in nature, not interest-oriented
or prone to pre-emptive strikes. In addition, the war in
Afghanistan is the United States' war, not China's. China will only
send troops to another country to engage in war when China's core
interests are seriously threatened. Moreover, there are various
ways to protect China's interests in Afghanistan. The Shanghai
Cooperation Organization has taken responsibility for promoting
security cooperation in Central Asia. The counterterrorism war in
Afghanistan has not yet become a threat to China's core interests.
It is in fact Obama's strategic plan to ask China to send troops to
Afghanistan. It is important for China to evaluate how it will send
troops to foreign countries and how to use armed force in today's
non-traditional security environment. But it is surely a joke to
say that the United States' request for China to send troops is
based on a consideration of China's interests."

3. CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS

"China obtains resources from Central Asia in good faith"

The China Radio International sponsored newspaper World News Journal
(Shijie Xinwenbao)(12/18)(pg 2): "As China's domestic consumption
has increased, so has its demand for energy resources. Great powers
are competing against each other in Central Asia. In order to
direct the flow of Central Asia's resources to the East, China needs
to strengthen its economic ties with Central Asian countries. The
big natural gas pipeline from Central Asia to China, which opened on
December 15, shows that China's cooperation with Central Asia has
made great progress. Cooperation on energy resources is a win-win
situation for both China and Central Asia, but China should also be
aware that its economic ties and cooperation with Central Asia are
not yet stable or thorough enough. In order to strengthen its
energy cooperation with Central Asian countries, China should
continue to provide them with long-term, low-interest loans as well
as additional financial cooperation. In light of the possible

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obstacles in the process of cooperation, China should also obtain
Central Asian countries' trust by adopting a more sincere and
friendly attitude towards them."

GOLDBERG

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