The
mighty 97,000 ton Nimitz-class USS George Washington,
now at
the
port of Busan in South Korea. The U.S. and South
Korea will hold
air and sea exercises called 'Invincible Spirit'
from July 25-28.
Global Times, People's
Republic of China
America and China
Taken in By South Korean Media
Has
recent South Korean media coverage of U.S. military plans in the Yellow Sea forced
Washington's hand - and triggered an overreaction in China's media? According
to this ironic article from China's state-run Global Times written by what is thought to be a fictitious
People's Daily editor, Ding Gang, Chinese media should consider information
in other media as a 'calculated ploy' and take care not to become 'beads on someone
else's abacus.'
USS George Washington crew members inspect the wreckage of South Korean naval vessel Cheonan, at Second Fleet Naval Command in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, July 22.
The long-awaited U.S.
aircraft carrier is finally due to arrive in South Korea. According to the American
military, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and three
destroyers, all from the Seventh
Fleet, were scheduled to arrive in South Korea late yesterday to prepare
for joint U.S.-Korea military exercises in the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan.
In the "media war" over
whether American aircraft carrier should be sent, think tanks and people involved
with diplomacy and the military in South Korea, the U.S. and China have
frequently expressed opinions. After being stirred up in the media, the
situation continues to boil.
This is neither the first
time nor is it likely to be the last that a U.S. aircraft carrier is participating
in joint military exercises with allies like Japan and South Korea. So is this
exercise different just because it's being held in the Yellow Sea?
Strangely, South Korean officials
made a high-profile announcement about the exercises, after which South Korean
media deliberately played it up. Meanwhile, after South Korea disclosed the
information, the U.S. remained silent. For 20 days during June, the U.S. failed
to confirm the news, despite repeated questions raised by Chinese media.
Perhaps the U.S. had already
decided to send its aircraft carrier; maybe the draft had to be finalized. Now,
although it isn't important whether the decision was made before or after the
publicity, the role of South Korean media in this incident is worth pondering.
The incident [the holding of
joint U.S.-South Korea exercises in the Yellow Sea] became the focus of intense
debate, particularly in China, where public opinion turned against the American
military and created a difficult situation for the U.S.
If Washington hadn't sent an
aircraft carrier into the Yellow Sea, U.S. hawks would accuse the White House
of appeasing China; meanwhile, sending the carrier risks irritating China.
Of course, the U.S. has good
reason to participate in the exercises. By doing so, it can maintain pressure
on North Korea, emphasize America's military presence in the region and conduct
training. After all, the situation in the Korean Peninsula remains tense and clashes
could break out at any time. But this time, the U.S. seems to somewhat
reluctantly have been forced into doing so.
Whereas before, America could
have demonstrated its power by action without words, it now has to enter
the Yellow Sea amid the shouts of South Korean media and strong opposition from
China's media. This isn't what the Americans wanted to see.
Then why should Koreans seek
to heat up this seemingly "conventional" operation? Perhaps, as some
experts suggest, South Korea wants to kill two birds with one stone. It can
show its toughness after years of relatively soft policies toward North Korea],
while ultimately relying on the United States to enhance its strategic
position.
After the Cheonan incident, tensions on the Korean
Peninsula seemed to have gradually subsided. South Korea gained little out of
the event, which angered the South Korean public, making the situation more difficult
for the Lee Myung-bak Administration. But now that tensions from holding these
joint military exercise have begun, the South Korean government is skillfully
using media to gain a strategic advantage.
Do these military exercises
really pose an imminent threat to China? I'm afraid not. If Americans really
think they can deter China by sending an aircraft carrier battle group into the
Yellow Sea, they badly underestimate China.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
Following cues from Korean
media, Chinese media has exaggerated the impact of these exercises. But the consequent
resentment in China reflects real public feeling. Such opinions cannot be
ignored.
Northeast Asia is undergoing
a period of strategic change. Therefore, precise calculations on how to set the
stage for a beneficial future for all countries are required. As for these recent
uses of media and public opinion, they should probably be regarded as a
calculated ploy.
For China's media, it is essential to know how to recognize the motives of others, or else we'll become beads on someone else's abacus.
*The author is a senior
editor with the People's Daily. dinggang@ globaltimes.com.cn
[Editor's Note: According
to The
Washington Post, the name Ding Gang is frequently assigned to important
analyses in the People's Daily … Chinese journalists say they believe it to be
a pen name used by senior editors or other party propaganda officials conveying
an official point of view. Reporters Without Borders rates China's media as
"Situation Very Serious"].
