Geo-Strategic Trend - 250. page

China News Service cited a report by the Central News Agency (CNA, Taiwan) claiming there were protests because U.S. citizens received preferential treatment when using the U.S. controlled Haiti airport. Apparently,  the airport became U.S.-only and aircrafts from other nations had a difficult time to get landing rights. It was reported that a few French citizens had to spend the night at the airport because they were not allowed to board their flight, while a great number of U.S. passengers were allowed to leave. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti denied any priority given to U.S. citizens. There are around 40,000 to 45,000 U.S. citizens in Haiti.

Source: China News Service, January 17, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/news/2010/01-17/2076164.shtml

China’s official website, www.huanqiu.com,  reported on January 11, 2010, that Raytheon, one of America’s major arms dealers, has a notorious record of selling arms to Taiwan. The Chinese government has taken sanctions against Raytheon, which has not received any orders from China since 2004 and had to withdraw completely from China’s Mainland market.

Lockheed Martin Corporation, another U.S. military industrial enterprise involved in arms sales to Taiwan, has suffered the same fate in China. Like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin faced severe sanctions from China and lost its market in China.

Source: Huanqiu, January 11, 2010
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-01/684617.html

The website of the State’s People’s Daily published an article stating China should welcome the United States to the Asian Pacific region to contribute to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region.  

“Despite U.S. intervention, China should keep a low profile and not be too much ‘in the public eye.’ It can seize this rare strategic opportunity of peaceful development to keep a low profile and good terms with neighbors, focusing on its own development.”  

In light of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the surging protectionism at home, the result of the “Asian return” may be significantly overstated. “In this context, Obama’s ‘return to Asia,’ may not be so terrible.”

Source: People’s Daily, January 12, 2010
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/10750195.html

On December 29, Wang Chen, Director of State Council Information Office, said that in 2009, the relationship between Hong Kong and Macao media and the Mainland was tightening more and more. According to statistics by the Information Office, there are 19 HK/Macao media agencies with more than 80 reporters covering Mainland news. In 2009, these reporters delivered 1688 person-time work on important affairs. He emphasized the facts that HK/Macao reporters attended Mainland advanced trainings; and HK/Macao media provided strong support in tough situations such as the earthquake. Wang urged the reporters to follow the instructions from public opinion administrative officials when reporting emergency events.

Source: Xinhua, December 29, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/gangao/2009-12/29/content_12723662.htm

Major Chinese news portal Sohu recently republished an article by Outlook Weekly, a magazine by Xinhua, about French Premier Francois Fillon’s visit to China. The article reported that Mr. Fillon was happy when he returned to Paris before Christmas with several “major deals.” It also declared the downturen of the relationship between the two countries started in 2008, when France “interfered” with Chinese internal affairs. During Fillon’s visit, he met with Hu Jingtao and Wen Jiabao, who agreed to the continuation of the China-France “strategic partnership.” The Chinese government however dismissed the French position which was that, “China should understand that France has a long standing tradition of freedom of speech.”

Source: Sohu, December 29, 2009
http://news.sohu.com/20091229/n269278263.shtml

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on November 30, 2009, that development of the current situation requires that  China and Europe enhance China-EU relations strategically, comprehensively, and stably. Wen made the speech at the 12th China-EU summit in Nanjing on November 30, 2009, according to Xinhua. Wen Jiabao, Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso hosted the summit.

Source: Xinhua, November 30, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-11/30/content_12563412.htm

A recent Huanqiu article analyzed German netizens’ responses to a Der Spiegel report about the German government’s investigation of four Chinese spy suspects. The state media believed that Der Spiegel was “inducing” the German public to criticize the Chinese government. Although readers did not react as expected, Germans may not be “tired of the media’s anti-China attitude,” added Huanqiu. 

China Daily commented on Harper’s visit to China, saying that after years of being firm concerning human rights issues, Harper finally saw the light, became realistic and traded it for economic cooperation with China.

The commentary said that Canada’s support for Falun Gong, the Taiwan question, and the Tibet issue has greatly hurt the Sino-Canada relationship. On the contrary, the U.S. was quite pragmatic. Bush raised Sino-US ties to their best period in history, and Obama downplayed ideology and declared to respect other countries’ choices concerning internal matters. Finally, the economic pressure drew Harper to mend his China policy.

The commentary said “… if Canada respects China over issues concerning China’s core interests, bilateral ties could realize sound development.”

The Chinese version listed meeting the Dalai Lama in 2007 and refusing to attend the Beijing Olympic Games as Harper’s transgressions, which were not mentioned in the English version.

Source: People’s Daily, December 2, 2009
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/10494985.html
China Daily, December 2, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2009-12/02/content_9098381.htm