Qian Lihua, Director of the Foreign Affairs office of the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated that the March release of the 2009 China Military Power Report by the U.S. Department of Defense will cause new damage to bilateral military relations. His remarks were made after a meeting between himself and David Sedney, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. The Xinhua report says that the past 30 years of exchanges have lacked a fundamental principle both countries agree to. This is the result of “a strong U.S. and a weak China.” China has invited the U.S. to observe several field exercises in the past few years, while the U.S. rarely does the same.

Source: Xinhua, March 2, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-03/02/content_10926360.htm

A State delegation of Tibetan members of the National People’s Congress met with U.S. Congressmen, reported the Chinese Central Government’s website on March 18, 2009. The delegation met with Congressmen Rick Larsen, Chairman of the U.S.-China Working Group, and John Conyers, Chairman of Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. The delegation also visited the Brookings Institution in Washington DC.

Source: Central Government of China, March 18, 2009
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2009-03/18/content_1262072.htm

China’s Anti-monopoly Bureau of Ministry of Commerce denied the U.S. company’s bid to purchase Huiyuan Juice, according to a release by the Ministry’s press office on March 18, 2009, on grounds that the proposed acquisition may restrict competition and harm local producers. On September 18, 2008 Coca-Cola’s submitted application to China’s Anti-monopoly Bureau for clearance to purchase Huiyuan Juice, China’s largest juice producer. Review of the application started November 19, 2008.

Source: Ministry of Commerce of China, March 18, 2009 http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/ae/ai/200903/20090306108388.html

Xinhua published an article originally from China Youth Daily claiming that North Korea’s hard line stance is related to the actions by the United States, Japan, and South Korea. First, South Korea President Lee Myung Bak started the policy of “Korea unification under democracy” to replace his predecessor’s compromise policy between South and North. This has made North Korea feel pressured of its future. Second, Japan and U.S. always pressure North Korea. Although Japan, U.S., and other Western countries promise to give financial compensation and aids after North Korea abandoning nuclear arms, they add many additional political requirements, or attack North Korea’s “human rights,” or criticize Korea’s leaders, and delay the implement of the promise. These have made North Korea government very disappointed. Finally, Japan and U.S. never give up their preparation of war in Korea peninsula. They first installed missile defense system, then accused North Korea’s launch of satellite. All these actions made Pyongyang feel the need to defend its safety. In addition, tens of thousands of American and South Korea’s joint military forces conduct exercise at the Korean border. It would be strange if North Korea takes no actions.

Source: Xinhua, March 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-03/15/content_11013179.htm