VZCZCXRO5136
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #6937/01 3050922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010922Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3196
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1626
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 3794
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0079
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3214
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 8834
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4457
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 4008
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4189
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0993
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0389
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1626
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1886
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH KN KS CA IR
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 1 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DALAI LAMA, BURMA,
SIX-PARTY TALKS, IRAN, TIBETAN REFUGEES, GATES VISIT
1. Key points at the November 1 MFA Press Briefing:
-- Countries that meet with the Dalai Lama have been deceived
or wish to meddle in the internal affairs of China. Seeking
to undermine China's policy of peaceful development in Tibet
is doomed to failure.
-- China hopes the relevant parties in Burma will show
restraint and hold dialogue to realize national
reconciliation. China supports UN Special Envoy Gambari's
mediation efforts.
-- VFM Wu Dawei met separately with A/S Chris Hill and Kim
Kye-Gwan to discuss the next phase of work in the Six-Party
Talks.
-- The P5 plus 1 will meet in London on November 2 to
discuss Iran. China supports a peaceful solution to the
Iranian nuclear issue achieved through negotiation.
-- China denies allegations that Chinese police shot at
Tibetan refugees fleeing for Nepal on October 18.
-- VISITS: U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will visit
China November 4-6. He will hold consultations on regional
and international security. China hopes that the visit, a
"big military event," will improve mutual understanding and
trust. At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Slovenian
Prime Minister Janez Jansa will visit China November 8-11.
Tibet and the Dalai Lama
------------------------
2. At the November 1 regular MFA press briefing, MFA
Spokesman Liu Jianchao said other countries' meetings with
the Dalai Lama are "hard to understand." These meetings take
place either because the countries have been deceived by the
Dalai Lama or because they wish to meddle in China's internal
affairs. Such meddling will not change anything, he said.
Liu said the Chinese government adheres to a policy of
building a harmonious and prosperous Tibet and that there are
rumors that some anti-Chinese forces seek to undermine
Tibetan development. Such efforts are "doomed to failure."
Concerning the Pope's plan to meet with the Dalai Lama in
December, Liu expressed hope that the Vatican would not "hurt
the feelings of the Chinese people," and would take steps to
improve its relationship with China. Asked for specifics of
how meetings with the Dalai Lama had hurt the relationships
between China and other countries, including the United
States, Liu responded that such meetings "deeply harm the
image of the relevant countries in the hearts of the Chinese
people."
Burma and Gambari
-----------------
3. Asked about Chinese pressure on Burma and the upcoming
Burma trip of UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari, Liu
said China has normal relations with Burma and hopes that the
relevant parties exercise restraint and hold dialogue to
solve problems and realize national reconciliation. Gambari
will go to Burma on November 3. China supports Gambari's
mediation efforts and hopes they produce positive result.
Update on Six Party Talks
-------------------------
4. Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met separately with both
U.S. Assistant Secretary Chris Hill and North Korean Vice
Foreign Minister Kim Kye-Gwan to exchange ideas on the next
phase work of the Six-Party Talks. A team of U.S. experts
has already gone to North Korea to work on disablement of
nuclear facilities. The third meeting of the Economic and
Energy Cooperation Working Group convened in the Republic of
Korea and a delegation from the Ministry of Commerce and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended. China hopes that all
parties "implement their commitments in earnest to implement
actions for the second phase in a comprehensive and balanced
manner."
BEIJING 00006937 002 OF 002
Iran
----
5. Asked about the November 2 P5 plus 1 Political Directors'
meeting on Iran in London, Liu said that China upholds the
principles of nonproliferation and supports diplomatic
negotiations to resolve the issue peacefully. China has
actively participated in the UN and in other meetings on
Iran. Six countries will meet in London November 2. The
Chinese representative will be MFA Director General of the
Department of Arms Control Zhang Yan. China hopes all
relevant parties will make efforts for a peaceful solution
through negotiation and supports consultations between Iran
and the IAEA and between Iran and the EU-3.
China: Not Shooting Fleeing Refugees
------------------------------------
6. Asked about allegations made by an American NGO, the
International Campaign for Tibet, that Chinese police had
shot at Tibetan refugees attempting to flee to Nepal on
October 18, Liu said that he had checked with the relevant
authorities, who confirmed that the allegations are
groundless and fabricated.
Visits
------
7. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will visit China
November 4-6, during which time he will hold consultations
and dialogue on matters related to regional and international
security. China hopes the visit, a "big military event,"
will improve mutual understanding and trust. At the
invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Slovenian Prime Minister
Janez Jansa will visit China November 8-11.
Randt