Keywords: Chinese fisherman killed in sea clash by S.Korean Coast Guard, China-bashing in US election criticized

Chinese fisherman killed in sea clash by S.Korean Coast Guard

The killing of a Chinese fisherman in a clash between South Korean coast guards and Chinese fishing boats in the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, amid a string of fishery conflicts between the two nations over the past decade, has caused Chinese media to appeal for an investigation by Seoul into the incident and discussions over the safety measures Chinese fishermen had better follow.

The Global Times stated in its editorial on October 17 that the news has generated strong condemnation from China.

South Korean police claimed that the rubber bullets were not shot toward any people no people, but this is hardly convincing. We urge the Chinese government to get involved in the investigation. Only the truth will satisfy public opinion, according to the report.

The comment held that Chinese media doesn't support or encourage Chinese fishermen to take risks in waters controlled by South Korea. The dilemma, though, is that regardless of the feeling of sympathy toward these fishermen, there is no immediate solution. Some experts have estimated that it may still take one or two generations to thoroughly resolve the fishing issue between China and South Korea. At present, both sides should avoid intensifying the tension.

"An unarmed fisherman was shot dead by a well-equipped coastal police force yesterday. Isn't it clear which side deserves more sympathy? We don't want to see the incident upset the bilateral relationship. But Seoul should react to the demands of an angry Chinese public by launching investigations and sorting out compensation," the paper concluded.

Similarly, a Beijing-based news portal caixun.com suggested a series of measures for Chinese fishermen in the event of being detained or kidnapped in a report on October 17.

Fishermen should initially bear the awareness of respecting the sea waters sovereignty of other nations after Chinese authority's education of laws in this respect to avoid any disputes between countries due to fishermen's entering of other nations' territorial sea waters, the comment said.

Besides, fisherman should keep calm in the face of unexpected incidents. They could report their conditions to the Chinese patrolling ships or the related Chinese organs and work in with foreign police to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

The comment also suggested the Chinese government should consider distributing some weapons via legal means to certain fishermen, who might fish in dangerous waters. The authority could also consider conducting semi-military training for them to improve their ability to defend themselves when facing dangerous robbers, including pirates.

The paper went on to say that China should intensify fishery cooperation with other nations by establishing a transnational safety mechanism, which outlines detailed rules on maritime safety, emergency actions and the non-use of weapons against fishing boats.

China could also dispatch patrolling ships to consolidate the maritime supervision of fishing boats by reminding them of no inadvertent intrusions to other nation's territorial sea and protecting them from illegal aggressions of foreign nations.

Separately, the Shandong-based news comment portal shipingjie.net held on October 17 in a report that the South Korean coast guard's deadly shooting of the Chinese fisherman, just after the two nations celebrated the 20th anniversary of the founding of bilateral diplomatic relations, indicated that Seoul has taken a hostile stance against Chinese fishermen.

China should do more than just protest and levy penalties toward South Korean if Seoul did not apologize for their wrongdoing, said the report.

China-bashing in US election criticized

With the second US presidential debate between US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney kicking off on Tuesday night in New York, the China-bashing tactic both candidates adopted during their debate encountered Chinese media outlets' criticism.

People's Daily (overseas edition) opined in a comment piece on October 17 that it is not surprising to see China fall prey to political tactics by both candidates running for the November 6 US presidential election.

The two US politicians attributed the nation's high unemployment to China's manufacturing industry while Congress said China's communication giants threatened US national security, said the report.

The paper urged the US to handle their own affairs first and leave behind the so-called "democratic reform in the Middle East" and the "pivot to Asia" projects.

The US had better ease first its domestic economic woes to help revive the world economy without blaming their own problems on others or alienating a nation from another.

Similarly, the Beijing-based news portal opinion.com.cn attributed US politicians' China-bashing tactics to its Cold War logic and China's growing global economic clout in a report on October 17.

Attacking China's political system is aimed at showing off that of the US while China's growing economic strength also displeased US politicians, who blamed China instead of reflecting over their liberal economic system and structure, the comment held.

The China-bashing trick will remain employed by US presidential candidates if the US does not change its conventional logic, the paper said.

The paper suggested China not pay much attention to fighting back such US tactics but keep on promoting China's own livelihood and maintaining social harmony.

The Economic Information newspaper, under the Xinhua News Agency, believed in its report on October 16 that the stances of the two US presidential candidates toward China do not really differentiate from each other.

The report said that Sino-US relations should not be limited to negotiations about bilateral trade, Taiwan issues and human right by quoting Elizabeth Economy, director for Asia studies at the US Council on Foreign Relations.

Economy further pointed out that the next US president "must face almost all the global challenges together with China," such as the Iranian and North Korean issues, global financial supervision and climate change.