Military

DATE=10/19/01

TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP

TITLE=APEC SUMMIT

NUMBER=6-12509

BYLINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

TELEPHONE=619-3335

CONTENT=

INTRO: President Bush and the leaders of 20 other economies around the Pacific are gathering in Shanghai for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. And a number of U-S newspapers are commenting editorially about the meeting.

We get a sampling from ______________ in today's U-S Opinion Roundup.

TEXT: On his way to the summit, President Bush told Air Force personnel in California that "Of course we'll talk about economics and trade ... But the main thing ... on my mind is to continue to rally the world against terrorists" and to remind other leaders "that evil knows no borders."

The New York Times comments that "The events of the last five weeks have made it critical for Mr. Bush to develop ties with China that more closely resemble the "strategic partnership" envisaged by President Clinton and once openly disdained by President Bush. Several newspapers note that China faces its own rebellious Muslims, the Uighurs, a Turkic people, living in China's far western Xinjiang province, bordering Afghanistan.

The Los Angeles Times says the meeting in Shanghai comes at a useful time.

VOICE: The APEC forum, starting Friday in Shanghai, will also allow President Bush to reemphasize to nations with large numbers of Muslims, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, that the fight is against terror, not Islam. Both Indonesia and Malaysia have wrestled with Islamic fundamentalist movements, mostly without violence. But both have experienced kidnappings and other forms of terror, as has the Philippines. Their leaders can offer tactical insights and fraternal understanding.

...Trade will still be an important topic, if no longer number one. Given the global slowdown before the terrorist attacks and the increasing slump since then, Pacific Rim countries will only make matters worse if they try to retreat behind broad trade barriers.

TEXT: Also in California, the Fresno Bee assesses the importance of the conference this way.

VOICE: ...(The) meeting ... was meant to give a boost to expanding global trade, and to celebrate China's impending entry into the World Trade Organization (W-T-O). Understandably ... the ... forum (is) likely to focus more on terrorism than trade. Yet (members) ...also should try to revive flagging momentum for trade progress, especially as the threat of recession complicates a troubled global agenda.

TEXT: In Ohio, the Plain Dealer in Cleveland is pleased that President Bush is not letting the conflict in Afghanistan or the anthrax threat here at home keep him from this important meeting. Says the Plain Dealer, Mr. Bush's message to the Asian business community is: "America is still open for business, and free trade remains the best path ... out of the global economic doldrums."

TEXT: In Illinois, the Chicago Sun-Times sizes up China's current position in the world and worries about any possible concessions on Taiwan that could be made at the meeting.

VOICE: Now that the Soviet Union is history, (gone), we have learned that it was never the threat we feared it to be. Powerful enough to give the West a tough time here and there, but at its core it was corrupt, weak, irrational and unproductive: a tottering glass bear. It is easy to make the same mistake with China ... (which) seems a menacing opponent. ... But China is a paper tiger. Most Chinese live in medieval poverty. The nation is beset with problems -- unchecked pollution, hidden debt, crumbling cities -- that are ignored by its aged leaders.

... (President) Bush meets with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Friday. They will have a lot to talk about. China is antsy (fearful) about having the American military suddenly on its western border, and must be reassured we will not become a permanent presence, if we can help it. In some areas we can't give reassurance and shouldn't try. China wants Taiwan and it would be irresponsible of (President) Bush to give them the slightest indication that U-S support is wavering for that besieged democracy.

...(However) times of crisis are also times of opportunity: witness our relationship with Pakistan. We are fortunate that, in essence, the United States and China want exactly the same thing: a stable environment to grow economic prosperity, and victory over ... the forces of international terror.

TEXT: The New York Times says "President Bush's diplomatic skill will get a workout" at the summit. The newspaper suggests the president needs to gain help from China while declining to accede to Beijing's quid pro quo.

VOICE: Instead of talking economics, the usual subject at this annual autumn gathering of 21 Asian and Pacific Rim (leaders), Mr. Bush will be trying to strengthen the international coalition against terrorism that he has been assembling since September 11th. He should use his meetings with other leaders, including President Jiang Zemin of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, to clarify what help they are prepared to offer and what they expect in return.

China has given strong rhetorical support to the American campaign against terrorism and ... In return ... seems to expect America and other countries to accept its mischaracterizations of the Falun Gong spiritual movement and separatists in Tibet and Xingjian (the Uighurs) as terrorists. Mr. Bush should firmly decline.

TEXT: With that comment, we conclude this editorial sampling from U-S newspapers about President Bush's trip to the APEC summit in Shanghai, China.

NEB/ANG/JWH