Global media reflect on fallout from Snowden's journey

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Hong Kong magazine showing Edward Snowden on the cover
Image caption,
Edward Snowden, seen on the cover of a Hong Kong magazine, features prominently in the world media

As the world's press speculates on where ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden will travel to next, several commentators celebrate the fact that so far no country has been willing to hand him over to US authorities.

The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong press are keeping the spotlight firmly on the issue of alleged US government hacking. China Daily says the US owes the world an explanation about Mr Snowden's leaks.

Several writers wonder what implications Mr Snowden's flight will have on relations between the US and other countries.

But some commentators also point out the irony of Mr Snowden now being passed from one country to another - each with a poor record on freedom of expression.

Jia Xudong in Beijing's China Daily

The US owes an explanation to China, and the world... (Snowden's) claims sounded the alarm for Beijing to beef up internet security efforts.

Snowden did something good for the world... For some time, the US has had the momentum on the issue of network security accusations against China, and the entire Western media is involved.

Hong Kong has dismantled a bomb, but the US's difficulties are yet to come… If the US only cares about hunting Snowden and is unwilling to reflect, it will only spur Snowden to continue to expose information or even encourage more 'Snowdens' to appear and risk their lives to expose America's misdeeds.

The US should give an explanation on infiltrating mainland China and Hong Kong computers, give an explanation on monitoring global networks, apologize for its misdeeds, and vow to no longer invade the computer networks of countries around the world, including Hong Kong."

There could be no better outcome for our city and China... That officials here and in Beijing kept their cool is admirable... Whatever we think of Snowden or his tactics, he has served us well by sparking a much-needed debate on government access to personal data.

Russia having a hand in Mr Snowden's acquiring political asylum may result in a new worsening of relations between the USA and Russia. US senators have already threatened to "show Russians that their actions will not be left without response"... [but] Moscow takes accusations and reproaches easily and does not fear a new conflict with the USA.

China wanted Snowden to go somewhere else. But Russia doesn't want him either…And if we began to make ourselves out to be fighters for freedom of speech, this would have been simply ridiculous.

Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Julian Assange, Baltasar Garzon, Rafael Correa, maybe the Castro brothers, and Nicolas Maduro: What do all of these people have in common? Why, Edward Snowden of course, because they represent the singular international alliance that has offered him its support and allowed him to flee. Or rather, they share a common aversion to the United States, against which they have forged a common front, and are thus shining the spotlight on the new dynamics that regulate global balances.

The case of Edward Snowden is opening up a new front between the United States, Russia, and China. Authoritative US congressmen yesterday explicitly pointed the finger at Russian President Vladimir Putin for "once again" seeking to stick "a finger in the eye" of the United States, given that Snowden's arrival in Moscow certainly cannot have occurred without the Russian president's assent.

[Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's country] is small and poor, but the head of state's ego is big. And for the second time in a fairly short period of time he could raise his profile as the president who dares to defy the mighty US... However, Correa's role as a defender of the freedom of opinion comes with a hefty dose of double standards. In his own country, he does not have a particularly high regard for the freedom of opinion and the media.

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