VZCZCXRO1945
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2179/01 1571056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051056Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7752
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1961
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0695
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9010
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002179
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KOLY PTER PHUM KS ZI KN MG SA YM QA
SUBJECT: JUNE 5 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: Security Dialogue, Tibet,
Darfur, Tiananmen, North Korea
1. Key points at the June 5 MFA press briefing were:
-- The Security Dialogue held in Beijing was pragmatic and conducive
to the development of security relations.
-- Tibet is stabilizing "gradually."
-- China has taken note of Australian Prime Minister Rudd's proposal
for an Asia Pacific Union. China would support any proposal which
enhances trust and cooperation in the region.
-- China's efforts to reach a "proper solution" in Darfur are "not
less than any other country."
-- Regarding Tiananmen prisoners, the spokesman said the United
States should stop its "erroneous practice" of interfering in
China's internal affairs.
-- Vice President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea from June
17-19.
Security Dialogue
------------------
2. At the June 5, 2008 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesman Qin
Gang said the fourth U.S.-China "Strategic Security Multilateral and
Nonproliferation Consultation" focused on the international security
situation, security relations between China and the United States
and arms control and disarmament. Both sides felt the consultations
were pragmatic and conducive to the development of bilateral
security relations. Qin said Under Secretary Rood agreed with
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi that the talks were conducive to
relations and should continue. China hopes Iran will implement
relevant UN Security Council resolutions and enhance its cooperation
with the International Atomic Energy Agency. On the Korean
Peninsula nuclear issue, Qin said China supports a political
solution that maintains the authority of the nuclear
nonproliferation regime and peace and stability of the region.
Tibet Gradually Stabilizing
---------------------------
3. Asked when journalists can expect to see evidence of the Dalai
Lama's involvement in the March 14 Lhasa unrest, Qin said China
already released information proving the "Dalai clique" incited the
riots and attacks against Chinese Embassies in foreign countries.
The Dalai Lama should stop his splitist activities and stop
undermining the Beijing Olympics. The date for the next round of
talks between representatives of the Dalai Lama and China is under
consultation. Qin noted that relevant authorities in China are
preoccupied by disaster relief and said China hopes the Dalai Lama
will "create conditions for contact through concrete actions."
Asked when journalists would be allowed into Tibetan areas,
including Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan, Qin said foreign journalists
would be allowed into these areas when social stability is further
restored. Pressed repeatedly on why Tibet has not yet been
stabilized, Qin said China was fully capable of restoring stability
and the process is a "gradual" one. To suggest otherwise is to
"look down on the Chinese Government and people." Qin did not have
any information on reports of arrests in Lhasa over a bomb plot.
Prime Minister Rudd's Asia Pacific Union
----------------------------------------
4. Qin said China has "taken note" of Australian Prime Minister
Rudd's proposal for an Asia Pacific Union. China will support "any
proposal" which seeks to enhance exchanges, political trust and
deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to promote common development
in the Asia Pacific region.
Darfur and Zimbabwe
-------------------
5. Responding to a question regarding "high-level U.S. officials'"
comments on China's role in Darfur, Qin said China has always
supported a "proper solution" to the Darfur issue based on dialogue
and consultation. China has made efforts to this end, including
sending engineering teams to the region. In promoting a proper
solution, China's efforts are "not less than any other country."
Qin said the tri-party coordination mechanism should be pushed
forward to promote a "proper solution of the issue," political
dialogue and deployment of peacekeepers.
6. Regarding Zimbabwe, Qin said China upholds the principle of
noninterference in other countrys affairs. China is confident in
the ability f the Zimbabwean people and government to resole their
own issues.
Tiananmen Prisoners
BEIJING 00002179 002 OF 002
-------------------
7. Asked to respond to U.S. demands that China release the remaining
Tiananmen prisoners, Qin said the political turmoil of the late
1980s has "concluded." In the past 20 years, China has enjoyed
economic development, social stability and the development of
democracy. The Chinese people enjoy fundamental human rights "in
accordance with law." Qin said "year after year, the United States
makes groundless accusations against China, seriously violating the
basic norms of international relations and grossly interfering in
China's internal affairs." China expresses "strong dissatisfaction
and firm opposition" to the U.S. statements, and demands that the
United States stop this "erroneous practice" that obstructs the
development of bilateral relations.
Xi Jinping to travel to DPRK and Middle East
--------------------------------------------
8. The spokesman confirmed that Vice President Xi Jinping will visit
North Korea June 17-19. VP Xi will also visit Mongolia June 19,
Saudi Arabia June 21-23, Qatar June 23-24 and Yemen June 24-25. The
specifics of Xi's visit to North Korea are still under discussion,
but he is expected to meet with North Korean leaders and discuss
regional issues, bilateral relations and the denuclearization of the
peninsula. Qin confirmed that this is Xi's first trip abroad as
Vice President.
Other Visits
------------
9. Vice Premier Wang Qishan will be in the United States June 17-18
for the fourth Strategic Economic Dialogue. German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit China June 13-15. FM Yang Jiechi
will travel to Japan on June 14 for meetings with the foreign
ministers of the ROK and Japan. The agenda for the meeting has not
been decided, although the Six-Party Talks would likely be
discussed, Qin noted.
Other
------
10. The spokesperson did not have any information about a meeting
between FM Yang Jiechi and Indian FM Pranab Mukherjee. Qin also had
no information about the search for a missing rescue helicopter
which crashed during earthquake relief operations.
PICCUTA