Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Beijing has censored passages from the inaugural speech of Barack Obama: the new US President’s references to “communism”, to the fight for power perpetrated by “corruption and deceit” and the repression of “dissidents” have all disappeared from Chinese media reports.

Yesterday the main media and web sites in China gave live coverage of the swearing in ceremony in Washington and the following address that inaugurated the presidency.  On the internet the speech is available in its entirety in the original English, but the Chinese translation has eliminated passages considered uncomfortable by the government.  Censors struck out three parts in particular, when the president of the united states mentioned how “earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions”. The entire sentence was removed from the version published by the state agency Xinhua and Netease, a popular internet site among Chinese web users.  Obama’s second explicit reference to world leaders who "blame their society's ills on the West" was also omitted, while the third passage to fall foul of the censors was when he spoke of  “those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent”, whom he said had chosen “the wrong side of history,"”.

Similar censorship was exercised yesterday during the live TV coverage:  China Central Television, the main national broadcaster televised the address with live translation.  The program was interrupted at the every moment when the US president referred to communism.  Coverage returned immediately afterwards.  The presenter, thrown by the interruption, rushed to put questions to a panellist.

Obama’s presidency seems to unsettle the Chinese leadership, who had friendly relations with his predecessor George W Bush: in an editorial published by the state newspaper China Daily reference is made to the widespread feeling in America that urges a break from the politics of the past eight years and republican presidency and many “are asking” or “or worrying to be precise, whether the new president would ignore the hard-earned progress in bilateral ties”. The Chinese government salutes “its old friend Bush” and struggles to define Obama, a person described as “enigmatic”, even though it hopes for “a continuation in stable bilateral relations”.   Words of encouragement however, come from the secretary of state-designate, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has said the two countries' relationship would be “the world's most important bilateral relationship this century”. The global economic crises pushes towards greater cooperation, but other unresolved issues remain, such as respect for human rights and the Tibetan problem.

No news on Barack Obama’s inauguration from North Korea, where national media was preoccupied with coverage of the Foreign Minister’s visit to Guinea.  Iran too, another of the “rouge states”, gave precedence to a demonstration in Tehran in favour support of the Palestinian population.  The ultra conservative Kayhan Daily tagged Obama a “fan of Zionists” and clouds continue to gather on the horizon for relations between the two states, particularly as long as the Iranian nuclear issue remains open.  No comment from the military junta in Myanmar, while the opposition ad dissidents hope for a concrete position by the new president against the military dictatorship that rules with an iron fist.  In Afghanistan the Taliban which claimed to have “no personal issues with Obama”, warn the president to “learn lessons from the Soviets” and recall troops from the country, leaving Afghans the job of “deciding the future of their country”.

In Russia, the premier Vladimir Putin has not hid his scepticism noting that “the most bitter disappointments usually result from excessive expectations”.  Israeli president Ehud Olmert was optimistic however saying that under Obama’s presidency “common initiatives will be taken to promote stability in the Middle East”.

In Indonesia, were he spent some of his childhood, Obama’s inauguration was greeted with festivals and street parties while   President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono augured that Obama “has the know how to face the current global crisis”.  Thailand was also using the financial measure to weigh up the new American administration.  Malaysia meanwhile asked for greater attention to be paid to “south east Asia”, too long ignored by his predecessor.  Political experts in India urged the Barack Obama continue “the path of dialogue” already laid out by the Bush administration.