China media: India border deal

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-24649252

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A "landmark" border defence deal has strengthened ties between China and India, papers say, adding that the move also promotes regional integrity.

The China Daily says "China and India made a major step forward in their ties on Wednesday with an agreement on border defence co-operation and measures to promote regional economic integrity".

"Both China and India are aiming for great power status in an era where the centre of global affairs is shifting to Asia, and neither side can afford having a powerful enemy at their door," the Global Times says.

Chinese commentators also believe the latest development will limit the impact of the US presence in the region.

Su Hao, director of the Asia-Pacific Research Centre at China Foreign Affairs University, tells the Global Times that "the US strategic pivot to Asia has put great pressure on China and triggered some problems in its neighbouring region… China needs to stabilise its neighbouring environment and strengthen its relationship with neighbouring countries, especially those big powers".

"As for India, the US has been trying to draw it to its side so as to establish a strategic circle from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean... India is an independent power and the strengthening of Sino-Indian relations will help reduce the pressure from the US, and contain Washington's pivot," Mr Su adds.

However, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post points out that the deal is not a long-term solution.

"Although the agreement, signed after a meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Beijing, provides no long-term solution to the decades-old deadlock, it serves as a pragmatic protocol to prevent armed conflict between the two Asian giants," the paper says.

Online anger

Turning to domestic news, some papers are criticising the arrest of a newspaper journalist from Guangzhou.

Police in Hunan have confirmed that Chen Yongzhou, a reporter of the New Express, has been detained for causing "damage to business reputation''.

The New Express on Thursday published a second front-page plea for the release of its journalists held by the police.

"The fact that Changsha police detained the reporter solely based on reports published on the newspaper is a clear violation of the principles of criminal law," The Beijing News comments.

"Criminal detention (and arrest) have been abused, and gradually used as a means of intimidation… making criminal detention into psychological pressure, and winning time for investigation," the Southern Metropolis Daily says.

And finally, US comedian Jimmy Kimmel's talk show has sparked anger among Chinese netizens after "a child on his show suggested solving the US debt crisis by 'killing everyone in China'," the Global Times says.

"In the clip, when Kimmel asked what to do about the $1.3 trillion US debt to China, a boy suggested killing everyone in China so the US would not need to pay back their debts. Hearing this, Jimmy Kimmel commented 'ok, it's an interesting idea' and turned to other kids," the paper adds.

"The clip spread widely online, with critics calling it racial discrimination," it says, adding that an online appeal has been launched on the White House petition website, asking the Obama administration to investigate the issue.

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