Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - China

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UNCLAS TOKYO 000140

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CHINA

1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Friday morning
included DPJ Secretary General Ozawa's intention to
submit to questioning by prosecutors tomorrow over a
questionable land purchase made by his political fund
organization.

2. "Responsibilities of China" The business-oriented
Nikkei editorialized on the Chinese announcement on 8.7
percent economic growth last year (1/22): "The prospect
of the Chinese economy catching up with the U.S.
economy is not so distant now. China is already the
world's largest exporter and greenhouse gas emitter. It
is time for China to become aware of its own
responsibilities. However, we've been frequently
disappointed with the behavior of the Chinese
government. The Chinese did not try to persuade other
developing nations to endorse the accord forged by
major countries in last year's COP15 meeting. The
Chinese policy of promoting exports by pegging its yuan
to the U.S. dollar is seen as a threat by other
developing countries. Its protection of intellectual
property rights and food safety control are
insufficient. China also attempted to mandate the
disclosure of technological information on imported
high-tech products. These actions run counter to
international rules."

2. "Strengths and Weakness of Chinese Economy" The
liberal Tokyo Shimbun argued in an editorial (1/22):
"There is no doubt that China is the leading growth
market among emerging economies. At the same time, as
President Hu stated, China is facing 'inconsistencies
and problems associated with economic growth whose
magnitude and complexity are rarely found elsewhere in
the world.' Just as seen in Google's spat with China,
unusual rules are sometimes imposed there, making a
'China-only' business strategy risky."

ZUMWALT

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