Cablegate: October 16 Mfa Press Briefing: Dalai Lama Visit

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006690

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH BM IR JA GM SU
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 16 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DALAI LAMA VISIT
AND FALLOUT, SUDAN, GAMBARI, OTHERS

1. Key points at the October 16 MFA Press Briefing:

-- The U.S. presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal of
Honor to the Dalai Lama will "seriously hurt" U.S.-China
relations.

-- Chinese participation in this week's scheduled P5-Plus-1
Political Directors' meeting was cancelled for "technical
reasons," and China's position on the Iran nuclear issue
remains unchanged.

-- China urges both sides in the Sudan to settle their
differences through dialogue.

-- China welcomes a visit by UN Special Envoy to Burma
Ibrahim Gambari during his current trip to Asia but specific
arrangements are "still under discussion."

-- An individual associated with a Japanese company in
Shenyang was arrested for arranging organ transplants for
Japanese in violation of Chinese regulations.

Dalai Lama Visit Will "Seriously Hurt" Relations
--------------------------------------------- ---

2. At the October 16 regular MFA press briefing, MFA
Spokesman Liu Jianchao said the Dalai Lama's meetings with
senior U.S. officials and his receiving the Congressional
Gold Medal of Honor would "seriously hurt" U.S.-China
relations. He said that China considered the Dalai Lama's
meetings in Washington "a serious violation of the
fundamental rules of international relations" and stressed
China's "resolute opposition" to the Dalai Lama's receiving
the award. Liu stressed that China urges the United States
to heed China's "solemn representations" on the matter,
cancel "relevant arrangements," and "stop interfering in
China's internal matters." Liu also said that China is
resolute in its protection of "state sovereignty and
territorial integrity."

Iran Meeting Cancelled for "Technical Reasons"
--------------------------------------------- -

3. Asked if the cancellation of PRC participation in this
week's scheduled meeting on the Iran nuclear issue (i.e., the
P5-Plus-1 Political Directors' meeting) was connected to the
Gold Medal of Honor, Liu reiterated China's opposition to the
Dalai Lama's visit, but said that China dropped out of the
meeting for "technical reasons." He stressed that the
Chinese position on the Iranian nuclear issue remains
unchanged. Liu added that China had informed the other
members and would consult with them regarding rescheduling
the meeting.

4. When asked if the cancellation of National People's
Congress Chairman Wu Bangguo's scheduled visit to the United
States next month was because of the Dalai Lama visit, Liu
said only that China was continuing "close contact" with the
United States and would "continue communication." A
follow-on question asked if the date for the Strategic
Economic Dialogue could be affected and Liu replied that he
had no specific information on any affect the situation might
have on the SED schedule.

5. Asked about a U.S. official's comment that President Bush
had informed President Hu of the Dalai Lama's visit to the
United States during their bilateral meeting on the margins
of the APEC summit last month, Liu said China had known about
the visit in advance and had expressed formal opposition to
the United States on multiple occasions.

Sudan
-----

6. On the Sudan People's Liberation Movement's (SPLM's)
recall of senior officials from the National Unity
Government, Liu said China is following the situation and
believes that the Sudan National Congress and the SPLM will
work to maintain peace and settle their differences through
dialogue "from an overall situation of national solidarity
and national reconciliation." He urged both sides to
implement the North-South peace agreement.

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Gambari Visit to China
----------------------

7. When asked if UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari
would visit China during his current trip to Asia, Liu said
that China welcomes his visit, but that specific arrangements
are "still under discussion."

Arrest of Organ-Seller Connected to Japanese Firm
--------------------------------------------- ----

8. Liu confirmed that an individual associated with the
Japanese-funded firm IPC Info Ltd Corp. in Shenyang was
arrested for using a website called "The China International
Orga Transplant Support Center" to arrange organ trnsplants
in China for Japanese, in violation of the company's
"jurisdiction and registration," as well as Ministry of
Health regulations. Liu said that China is taking measures
against other individuals and that the investigation is
ongoing.

Houses Torn Down for 17th Party Congress?
----------------------------------------

9. Asked about reports that the Chinese government
demolished "many houses" ahead of the opening of the 17th
Party Congress, Liu responded that China "cannot accept this
accusation." He added, however, that the 17th Congress is a
very important event in the political life of China and as
such requires a "good environment," and that the government
made "relevant arrangements" in accord with the law.

Nobel Peace Prize
-----------------

10. When asked about China's reaction to the awarding of the
Nobel Peace Prize to former Vice President Gore and the UN
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Liu said
that the PRC appreciates the positive contribution that Gore
and the IPCC have made in promoting cooperation on an issue
of international concern and offered China's congratulations.
Randt

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