VZCZCXRO1997
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2997/01 2160711
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 030711Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8946
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK IMMEDIATE 6217
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0775
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE IMMEDIATE 9402
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2057
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG IMMEDIATE 0433
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUGIAAA/NGA NAVY YARD WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEAFVS/OSD WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/NGA ST LOUIS MO IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/NGA HQ BETHESDA MD IMMEDIATE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RULSDMK/NSA US WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNSE/US SECRET SERVICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002997
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT, FOR, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/DO, DS/TIA/OSAC, DS/P/MECU,
DS/TIA/ITA, DS/DO/P, DS/ICI/CI, DS/T/ATA, DS/TIA,
DS/TIA/PII, DS/CC, EAP/CM, S/CT, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, PASS TO
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) OPERATIONS
CENTER, HONG KONG FOR RSO AND LEGAT AND USSS, SHANGHAI FOR
RSO, SHENYANG FOR RSO,CHENGDU FOR RSO, GUANGZHOU FOR RSO,
USSS HQS FOR INV, OPO, HNL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER
SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT
#3, 08/03/2008
REF: BEIJING 2994
1.(SBU) The following cable provides
information on security, public diplomacy,and consular
activities related to the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic
Games as of 08/03/2008. Copies of this and previous
situation reports can be found on the following
ClassNet/SIPRNet link:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal
:Olympics(underscore)Summer(underscore)2008.
2. (U) The interagency USG Joint Operations Center (JOC)
can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following
numbers:
- JOC Direct Line: 011-86-010-6532-6966.
- U.S. Embassy Beijing: 011-86-010-6532-3431,
JOC extension 6200.
- JOC fax: 011-86-010-6532-4763.
- STE and fax: 011-86-010-6532-5163.
KEY EVENTS
----------
3. (SBU) On the evening of 08/02/2008, Chinese Olympic
organizers staged a full-scale rehearsal of the Summer
Olympics Opening Ceremony scheduled for 08/08/2008.
Reuters reports that the 90,000-seat Bird,s Nest stadium
was filled almost to capacity and USG personnel who
attended the show indicated that the Opening Ceremony
extravaganza was enacted in its entirety with the exception
of the lighting of the Olympic flame. Embassy officers
reported that crowd control measures appeared to be
adequate to the number of attendees and that, despite fears
to the contrary, the security procedures for entry and exit
were not cumbersome or time-consuming. A final dress
rehearsal is scheduled to take place prior to next Friday,s
official commencement of the Olympic Games.
SECURITY ISSUES
---------------
4. (SBU) Threats: On 08/01/2008, the Chinese Ministry of
Public Security (MPS) requested assistance through the U.S.
Embassy Beijing Legal Attache to determine the origin of
Internet postings related to two threat streams: the
first, a letter threatening an attack on the Olympic Games
using viruses or a "food bomb," and the second, a series of
online postings discussing the construction and use of
explosives (with no specific mention of the Olympics). An
FBI investigation into the sources of the information is
ongoing.
5. (SBU) Incidents: According to information passed to
the JOC by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Security
Operations office, Chinese authorities have resolved the
BEIJING 00002997 002 OF 003
07/29/2008 incident involving the discovery of water
bottles containing anti-U.S. notes at Beijing Normal
University (BNU)--the training venue for the U.S. Olympic
team. Beijing police believe the notes were written by a
female Japanese graduate student who had engaged in a
heated confrontation with campus security after being
prevented from accessing her dormitory room. Handwriting
samples from the student,s BNU application reportedly
matched the writing on the notes. As of 07/30/2008, the
student had graduated and had moved out of the university;
Chinese officials feel she poses no threat to U.S.
interests. This timely and informative response from
Chinese law enforcement again emphasizes the priority they
appear to have placed on cooperating with U.S. security
personnel on threats and incidents related to the U.S.
Olympic presence. Though the police provided the
individual,s name transliterated into Chinese, JOC
personnel will follow-up to obtain the individual,s
Japanese name in order to run requisite record checks.
6. (SBU) According to China,s official state media, on
08/02/2008 Chinese police detained a man who phoned a
department store in Chongqing, claiming he had placed bombs
in the building. The store was located in Chongqing,s main
commercial district of Jiefangbei. Following his arrest,
the man reportedly told authorities he had issued the
threat because he was unable to pay his credit card bill,
but denied actually placing any bombs. Police reportedly
swept the building three times but found no explosive
devices. Though this incident is not Olympics-related, the
Chinese response to the threat highlights the importance
they are currently placing on security throughout the
country in advance of the Games.
7. (SBU) Olympic Protest Zones: According to Hong Kong,s
South China Morning Post, as of 08/03/2008 the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) has
issued a detailed list of procedures for those wanting to
hold public protests during the Olympic Games. This move
comes after an activist from Suzhou was detained and sent
home while trying to lodge an application to stage a
demonstration in one of three designated protest zones
(noted in reftel). According to the published procedures,
protest organizers must submit an application and their ID
cards to the relevant public security bureau five days
before they want to hold their protest. Organizers are
also asked to assign people to help the police maintain
order during the protest and to wear badges for easy
identification. State agencies, private companies and NGOs
must put their official seal on the documents and have them
signed by the head of the organization and foreign
applicants have been asked to provide a Chinese translation
of their documents. If applicants have not received any
feedback two days before the planned protest, they should
BEIJING 00002997 003 OF 003
assume their application has been turned down.
SECURITY OPERATIONS
-------------------
8. (SBU) Transportation security remains a key concern
for Chinese authorities, who have recently increased
security on Beijing city bus routes in response to bus
bombings in Shanghai and Kunming. On 08/02/2008, China,s
Vice Minister of Railways announced five additional
transportation security measures to combat terrorism and
rioting during the Olympics, according to China,s official
state media. These measures include: increased patrols
near rail stations; strengthened management of station
exits and entrances; tightened luggage checks; intensified
management of waiting rooms, ticket rooms, and luggage
rooms; and increased security checks on trains and
passengers.
9. (SBU) According to a 07/25/2008 Jiefangjun Bao website
article, a brigade of the Shanghai Garrison Command Coastal
Defense Forces recently participated in an Olympics
security drill simulating a terrorist attack on a Shanghai
stadium using explosives and poison. The drill, which was
completed in one hour, included neutralizing the explosives
and poisons at the stadium and transporting the wounded to
a hospital.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/CONSULAR AFFAIRS/POLITICAL AFFAIRS
--------------------------------------------- ---
10.(U) There is no significant information or
activity to report.RANDT