Kerry in Beijing: Chinese Media Reactions

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Chinese leaders in Beijing on February 14 and 15 as part of a six-day Asian trip that also included visits to South Korea and Indonesia. Kerry then headed to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for talks on Middle East issues before returning to Washington. Among the issues Kerry discussed with Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping were North Korea’s nuclear program, climate change, regional maritime disputes, and internet freedom in China. Official Chinese media reaction to Kerry’s visit was positive on the issues of North Korea and climate change, cordial but uncompromising on regional maritime disputes, and cool on the issue of internet freedom.

Following Kerry’s departure, the official state-run People’s Daily reported in Chinese that, although the U.S.-China relationship “still faces significant challenges,” Kerry’s visit would “help promote the development of one of the world’s most important bilateral relationships.” Government statements included in this article were particularly positive on climate change cooperation, saying that as “the world’s two largest economies, China and the U.S. are working together in new ways to help drive the world in making a better life for all mankind.” Differences of opinion on regional maritime disputes and internet freedom in China were included but downplayed with little comment. It is notable that the article included Kerry’s comments on internet freedom, since such comments are often excluded from official reporting on visits by U.S. dignitaries.

The English version of People’s Daily also reported positively on U.S.-China cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Kerry “that China will never allow chaos or war on the Korean Peninsula,” according to the report, and that “China will work with all parties concerned including the United States to play a constructive role for the region’s peace and stability.”

The state-run English newspaper China Daily likewise struck a positive tone on climate change cooperation, quoting from a joint statement on climate change issued at the conclusion of Kerry’s visit. “China and the United States will work together … to collaborate through enhanced policy dialogue, including the sharing of information regarding their respective post-2020 plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions,” said the statement, adding that the two sides “commit to devote significant effort and resources to secure concrete results” by the 6th U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue later this year.

Chinese media commentary on the U.S role in regional maritime disputes was far less forthcoming. In English, Xinhua reported that the foreign minister “urged the United States to respect China’s sovereign interests in the East China Sea and South China Sea,” stressing “that no one can shake China’s determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” In Chinese, People’s Daily avoided direct criticism of the United States but took aim at certain unnamed Asian neighbors (i.e., Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam) for “illegal occupation” of Chinese territories, “spreading untruths internationally,” and “artificially creating tension in the region.”

Chinese media reacted coolly to Kerry’s statements on internet freedom and his meeting with Chinese bloggers who urged the United States to help “tear down the great internet firewall” in China. Identical statements in Chinese and English chided internet activists for expecting U.S. help, saying that “Washington has neither the capacity to influence China’s political process, nor power to impede any departments concerned from sanctioning dissidents who engage in illegal activities.” These statements added that “U.S. ideological permeation into China has far gone beyond the dissemination of knowledge and ideas and some U.S. forces expect that it will create political effects conforming with its own interests,” but that “China will stick to its political path unless disruptive fiascoes occur.”

China’s positive tone on North Korea and climate change appear to indicate that it is prepared to work with the United States on issues of common interest. On regional maritime disputes and human rights issues such as internet freedom, predictably however, China appears unlikely to budge. Despite Kerry’s best efforts, further tension in the region due to China’s maritime disputes with its neighbors seems certain, and little if any progress on human rights at home seems likely any time soon.

Image credit: Xinhua.