BBC Monitoring quotes from China, Taiwan press 7 Sep 12

The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries carried in 6-7 September 2012 website editions of mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwan newspapers and news portals available to BBC Monitoring. Unless otherwise stated, the quotes are in Chinese. The figure in brackets after the quote indicates the date of publication on the website

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Headline: “‘Global challenges’ testing Asia-Pacific”

Beijing’s Renmin Ribao (Chinese Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily) overseas edition: www.people.com.cn “…As the most systemically perfect, highest level and influential economic cooperation forum of the Asia-Pacific region, the convening of APEC when the world economy is struggling is of major concern… Zero- sum concepts are outdated, mutual benefit and win-win are the way forward and the only way to overcome difficulties and attain strong, sustainable and balanced growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the world economy to ensure that the feast of the ‘Asia-Pacific century’ benefits all parties.” (Ruan Zongze, vice-president, China Institute of International Studies (foreign ministry think-tank)) (7)

Headline: “Commit APEC to recovery”

Beijing’s China Daily (state-run newspaper) in English: www.chinadaily.com.cn “…There is a dire need for APEC members to work even closer together in their responses to economic slowdowns, inflation and joblessness. APEC members should bear in mind the diversity of their alliance and make sure they take all of their various differences and concerns into consideration. Given that some members view others’ development as a threat and have put up trade barriers under the pretext of protecting their domestic industries, the group should express a commitment to upholding the principles of non-discrimination, openness and tolerance while they work toward regional integration…” (Commentary) (7)

2. “…The focus of APEC economies should lie on their free trade goal fulfilment instead of the establishment of a tentative framework that goes beyond WTO principles, such as the Trans- Pacific Partnership [TPP], for which the negotiations include APEC members, such as Australia, New Zealand… It’s not right that the US, which didn’t fulfil its commitment to trade liberalization with APEC members, has been focusing on the TPP, which is still tentative due to concerns about its feasibility.” (Interview with Wang Yusheng, executive director, Centre for Strategic Studies, China Foundation for International Studies and Academic Exchanges, Beijing, and former APEC official)

Headline: “APEC mainly discusses economic issues, but it can create a political buffer”

Beijing’s Huanqiu Shibao (Global Times) website: www.huanqiu.com “…Due to the rise of China’s economic influence in APEC, the US has become very keen to promote the TPP in recent years, and it seems to have a strategic intention of replacing the former with the latter. The US’ approach of pursuing national interests is more unabashed. Will the overlapping and replacement of one organization with another have a negative impact on the economic and political situation in Asia-Pacific? The US does not seem to care…” (Editorial) (7)

Headline: “APEC summits serve as political cushion”

Beijing’s Global Times (English-language edition of state-run newspaper Huanqiu Shibao) website in English: www.globaltimes.cn “…The US has repeatedly called for the introduction of political topics, a suggestion which has been rejected by Asian countries including China. Political divergence remains the biggest problem in Asia, which includes different ideologies and values as well as various territorial disputes. It’s highly likely that talking about these divergences at multilateral occasions like APEC summits will lead to quarrels and divisions… The US is brazenly selfish, and considers only its own interests when formulating and implementing its Asia-Pacific strategies…” (Editorial) (7)

Headline: “APEC is an opportunity to cool down island disputes”

Beijing’s Xin Jing Bao (The Beijing News): www.thebeijingnews.com “…APEC originally had nothing to do with island disputes, yet it has become a platform for providing bilateral dialogue on hotspot island disputes… The successful practice of long-standing land border talks between China and Russia and China and Vietnam has proved that territorial or island disputes are not a zero-sum game, and peace and cooperation are the right way to resolve island disputes…” (Xu Liping, commentator) (7)

Headline: “Russia’s integration into Asia-Pacific welcomed”

Shanghai’s Dongfang Zaobao (Oriental Morning Post): www.dfdaily.com “…China keenly supports Russia hosting the meeting successfully because China is Russia’s comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, and Russia’s agenda for the meeting is in line with China’s national interests… Russia’s advance into Asia- Pacific to become an Asia-Pacific power with major influence will be conducive to the expansion of Sino-Russian strategic cooperation, conducive to the establishment of a just and reasonable order in East Asia and conducive to regional stability and peace…” (Wang Haiyun, director, Energy Diplomacy Research Centre, China Institute for International Studies, and former Chinese military attache to Russia) (7)

Beijing’s Jinghua Shibao (Beijing Times): www.bjd.com.cn “As for meetings with Chinese leaders during the summit, Japan and the Philippines both have this need because they understand very clearly that if China really wants to counter them, they will be unable to withstand this.” (Interview with Prof Jin Canrong, deputy dean, School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing) (7)

Headline: “Hu-Noda talks unlikely after reports Japan has agreed to buy Diaoyus”

Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post in English: www.scmp.com “It is an embarrassment for [Chinese President] Hu [Jintao] to meet with [Japanese Prime Minister] Noda. If Hu made a protest, then the ties between the two leaders would inevitably be hampered. But if Hu did not make any protest, then people in both countries might take it as a sign that Beijing agreed with Tokyo buying the islands.” (Interview with Zhou Yongsheng, deputy director of Japan studies centre, Institute of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing) (7)

2. “Neither side [China, Japan] will make concessions and the disputes will not be resolved. There is nothing Beijing can talk about. Tensions would not be eased but could be escalated… Beijing is dismayed Tokyo made a deal to buy the [Senkaku/Diaoyu] islands after [Japanese Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs] Yamaguchi went home [after handing a letter from Noda to Hu in Beijing on 31 August].” (Interview with Da Zhigang, professor of Japanese studies, Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province) (7)

United States

Headline: “See through the nature of Hillary saying one thing and doing another”

Beijing’s Beijing Ribao (Beijing Daily): www.bjd.com.cn “…During the visit [to China], [US Secretary of State] Hillary [Clinton] did indeed say a lot of moving things such as ‘the US and China should go beyond differences and strengthen cooperation’… One seems to have completely forgotten that a series of words to slander China such as ‘despicable’ and ‘authoritarian’ also came out of her mouth recently… Looking back at her few years as secretary of state, she has stirred up a lot of friction and mistrust in Sino- US relations… It now appears that Hillary’s so-called ‘smart power’ diplomacy is nothing more than saying one thing and doing another and engaging in double-dealing…” (Chang Shi) (7)

Headline: “Hillary’s directed South China Sea farce did not go as planned in China curtain-call trip”

Shanghai’s Wenhui Bao: wenhui.news365.com.cn “…On issues related to national sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, China is not so easily fooled… Hillary’s stance looks impartial, as if she is an ‘angel of peace’ full of benevolence. But if one has the slightest understanding of the rights and wrongs of South China Sea disputes as well as the ins and outs of the US’ policy on this issue in the past two years, one will find that the current tensions in the South China Sea have been a farce self-directed and self- performed by Hillary herself from start to finish…” (Yu Wanli, associate professor, School of International Relations, Peking University) (6)

Headline: “Better legacy from Clinton”

Beijing’s China Daily in English: “…Clinton’s legacy is a matter of controversy. True, she has worked hard to change the foreign policies the US pursued during the Bush administration. Regrettably, though, Clinton has been highhanded in dealing with various matters that are important to Sino-US relations and regional stability [referring to Clinton’s calls for multilateral resolution of South China Sea and comments on the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands being applicable to the US-Japan defence treaty]. Her frequent undiplomatic stances are at odds with the essence of diplomacy. The US’ foreign policy obviously needs to change from what it was under Bush; but it should also change from what it is this year…” (Prof Shen Dingli, director, Department of American Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai) (7)

2. “Beijing also hopes Washington to be a stabilizing factor in the region. The key point is it must be truly positive and constructive. But what it has done within the region is quite the opposite. Its strategic shift back to Asia has actually increased suspicion among Asian countries.” (Interview with Zhang Jiuhuan, former Chinese ambassador to Singapore) (7)

Headline: “Hillary suffers setback, China, US must deepen mutual trust”

Taipei’s Want Daily: news.chinatimes.com “…Sure enough, the results of Secretary of State Hillary’s Beijing trip were disappointing. The meeting with [Chinese Vice-President] Xi Jinping was cancelled. The meeting with Hu Jintao was held as scheduled but the talks were full of diplomatic parlance. Both sides stuck to their own views with no common ground during talks with [Premier] Wen Jiabao and [Foreign Minister] Yang Jiechi. The mainland media’s comments on Hillary seemed even more forthright… Xi Jinping’s meeting with Hillary should have been a major event to position core national interests, yet China suddenly changed the scheduled arrangement. Regardless of the reason, it will inevitably be interpreted as ‘deliberately conveying dissatisfaction to the US’…” (Editorial) (7)

Headline: “US exporting turmoil with its record arms sales”

Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post in English: “…To those advocating an international arms trade treaty to regulate the industry, such sales [US international arms sales] are nothing short of exporting turmoil… It is to be hoped that the matter [regulating international arms trade] will be raised and brought to a vote when the 193-nation UN General Assembly meets later this month. No government could object to efforts to prevent weapons from being used to kill women and children or commit war crimes and human rights abuses. One person dies every minute due to armed violence. If the grim toll is to be reduced, powerful nations have a duty to show leadership.” (Editorial) (7)

Japan, Russia

Headline: “Immediate action should be taken to counter Japan’s ‘island purchase’”

Beijing’s Huanqiu Shibao (Global Times) website: www.huanqiu.com “…China will not take statements on the Japan-US military alliance being used to deal with China as a serious threat. Even if this comes true, China will not retreat… When currently seeing the Japanese government about to complete its ‘island purchase’, how should China specifically counter it? We believe that China has many ways. China can refer to the practice of setting up Sansha City and the Sansha garrison [in the South China Sea] and make new arrangements for legal and administrative jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands. China can also immediately step up the frequency of law enforcement patrols in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, and upgrade civil Protect the Diaoyus groups to county or municipal- level local government organizations…” (Editorial) (7)

Headline: “China should release ‘Diaoyu Islands White Paper’”

2. “…The fight for the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands has entered a white-hot stage and China must make moves… First, determine the administrative jurisdiction of the Diaoyu Islands as soon as possible… Second, release a ‘Diaoyu Islands White Paper’ as soon as possible… Third, define an institution responsible for the Diaoyu Islands as soon as possible to carry out a propaganda offensive… Once such an institution is established, launch three- dimensional propaganda. There are many ways, for example: First, issuing Diaoyu Islands advertisements… Second, establishing a ‘Diaoyu Islands Museum… Third, issuing Diaoyu Islands stamps…” (Liang Fang, Department of Strategy, National Defence University) (6)

Headline: “China and US should tacitly manage and control Japan’s impulses”

Beijing’s Guoji Xianqu Daobao (International Herald Leader): www.xinhuanet.com/herald/ “…China and the US have an obligation to remind Japan not to harbour hopes that by sheer luck the US will counter China on the Diaoyu Islands… Japan should recognize that it is likely to become a sacrificial victim in the game process of China and the US exploring a new type of relationship between a major power and an emerging power. As the largest long-term provider of security resources to Japan, the US has an obligation to define its strategic interests in Asia-Pacific more clearly and clearly communicate its standpoint to Japan.” (Yan Yue) (6)

Headline: “Russia unhappy at US’ return to Asia-Pacific”

Beijing’s Zhongguo Qingnian Bao (Chinese Communist Youth League newspaper China Youth Daily): zqb.cyol.com “…The US’ return has enhanced Japan’s boldness in the South Kurils dispute (called four northern islands in Japan) to pose a serious challenge to Russia’s actual occupation… The US’ return to Asia-Pacific strategy is a new round of strategic suppression of Russia in the Far East… Besides missile-defence systems, what worries Russia the most is the integration of the US-Japan-South Korea alliance. Once an ‘Asian NATO’ is successfully established, it will be the US’ powerful hegemonic tool in the Pacific region, and Russia’s real interests in the Far East and its future path of expansion in the Pacific are bound to be curbed by a powerful military alliance…” (Ma Jianguang, Sun Luming, Yue Shiguang, National University of Defence Technology) (7)

South China Sea

Headline: “Conflict stories ignore ASEAN’s real issues”

Beijing’s Global Times website in English: “…ASEAN [Association of South-East Asian Nations] may need the balancing power of the US. But the economic level is the most important. Those who argue that China has split ASEAN are either confused themselves or trying to confuse others. They don’t see things from ordinary people’s perspectives… A free trade area that covers 1.9 billion people will not only benefit China and the ASEAN member countries, but also make peaceful development the mainstream of East Asia. I sincerely hope Clinton could carefully consider this question: Will the US join the process as an equal member? Or will it continue trying to dominate the process as in the past?” (Ding Gang, Bangkok-based senior editor, Chinese Communist Party newspaper Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily)) (6)

India

Headline: “Good omen for Sino-Indian ties”

Beijing’s China Daily in English: “…Frankly speaking, no one in China or India was expecting [Chinese Defence Minister] Liang [Guanglie]‘s visit to [India] have regional implications or achieve any political breakthrough as nothing ‘new’ had been planned for his visit other than successfully reviving Sino-Indian military-to- military interactions, which was halted for two years. And this limited objective has certainly been achieved… However, thanks to the Western media’s commentaries insinuating larger and ulterior motives to Liang’s visit to India, a certain air of enthusiasm has surely engulfed the equations between New Delhi and Beijing…” (Prof Swaran Singh, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India) (7)

Headline: “China’s defence minister causes stir over cash gift to pilots in India”

Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post in English: (The Indian media report that Liang Guanglie broke Indian diplomatic protocol by tipping two Indian air force pilots 50,000 rupees each after they flew him from Mumbai to New Delhi.) “If someone should be blamed for the incident, I think it might be the responsibility of military officers of the Chinese embassy in India to brief Liang about protocols and taboos.” (Interview with Ni Lexiong, military expert, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law) (7)

European Union

Headline: “Beijing ‘regrets’ EU solar decision”

Beijing’s China Daily in English: “The probes by the US and the EU into Chinese solar products are not based on economics. They are political and aim to seize a vantage place in the new energy industry. It’s time for the government to stand up.” (Interview with Zhou Shijian, international trade law expert, Research Centre for Sino-US relations, Tsinghua University, Beijing) (7)

Headline: “EU urged to end anti-dumping probe”

Beijing’s Global Times website in English: “While we will actively respond to the case, we will also reflect on the industry’s problems of overcapacity, which cannot be absorbed by the international market. The case may offer an opportunity for consolidation of the domestic solar industry and expansion of solar technology applications in China.” (Interview with Gao Hongling, deputy secretary-general, China Photovoltaic Industry Alliance (CPIA)) (7)

2. “A trade war cannot help solar manufacturers out of the current downturn. They should cooperate to weather this tough time.” (Interview with Tu Xinquan, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing) (7)

Headline: “China needs to respond actively to China-Europe photovoltaic war”

Beijing’s Huanqiu Shibao: “…The government should also make a response. Besides continuing to make the necessary legal representations, it should choose to impose necessary sanctions against European products imported into China through unfair competition at an appropriate time, depending on the progress of the case. In addition, and more importantly, the domestic photovoltaic industry and related industries must learn a lesson, seize the opportunity to upgrade, break through technology constraints, avoid peer competition and attain healthy and sustainable development.” (Huo Jianguo, director, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Chinese Ministry of Commerce) (7)

Hong Kong

Headline: “Government fully open, anti-national education activists should respond to goodwill”

Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po (Beijing-backed daily): www.wenweipo.com “…[Hong Kong Chief Executive] Leung Chun-ying’s position is clear. The government has a fully open attitude on the discussion of national education issues and anything can be discussed. Faced with the highly sincere and fully open attitude of the government, anti- national education activists should break the deadlock, hold rational dialogue and make a goodwilled response. It is believed that this will be in line with the wishes of all sectors of the community to resolve the issue…” (Editorial) (7)

Headline: “Stop occupation and start dialogue for sake of children and education”

Hong Kong’s Ta Kung Pao (Beijing-backed daily): www.takungpao.com “…Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who did not go to the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting yesterday to stay in Hong Kong to focus on public matters, conveyed an important message with positive and breakthrough significance for easing current tensions and the long-term promotion of national education… There is no ‘zero-sum game’ between setting up national education and opposing national education. It should not be seen as a ‘political game’ and one must guard against opposition politicians ‘hijacking’ it as a tool to win votes…” (Editorial) (7)

Headline: “Government has ulterior motives in stalling tactics again”

Hong Kong’s Apple Daily: appledaily.atnext.com “The citizens’ hunger strike against national education entered its eighth day yesterday, but the Hong Kong government is still unmoved… The Hong Kong government has seemingly expanded room for discussion on national education, but this in fact just another stalling tactic. Citizens demand the immediate withdrawal of the National Education curriculum and abolishment of brainwashing education, rather than waiting for a fake consultation and fake review of national education…” (Editorial by Lee Ping) (7)

Sources: As listed

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Category: International