Che c'importa delle torri, meglio l'atletica!

Abstract

The article focuses on the editorial policy of two authoritative papers, Renmin ribao and Guangming ribao in relation with the September 11th attack to the Twin Towers. The author claims that the analysis and the position of the two papers usually mirror the Central Government’s one and that, in spite of the fact that the Islamic terrorism is a severe problem for the Chinese authorities too, they anyway tend to disagree with any initiative taken without the U.N. approval, as it happens with the case of the USA attack against Afghanistan. Gregorio points out the core elements of the ambiguity of the Chinese foreign policy in those days, as it appears in the Renmin ribao and in Guangming ribao and outlines the reasons why the Chinese try their best not to bring their relationship with America to a point of no return, at the eve of APEC summit and of the official entry of China in the WTO.