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OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2535/01 2461208
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O 031208Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5894
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002535
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMEMBASY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
AMEMBASSY BANGUI
AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
AMINTSECT HAVANA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
NSC WASHDC
CIA WASHDC
DOE WASHDC
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MNUC CH AS RS CO KN TU
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 3 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: VISA POLICY, AMBASSADOR
BOSWORTH, AMERICAN JOURNALISTS RELEASED FROM NK, REBIYA KADEER
1. Key points at the September 3 MFA press briefing:
-- In regards to the denial of visas to the producers of a film
regarding the earthquake in Sichuan, China stated the importance of
an individual country's sovereign right to determine its own policy
of visa issuance.
-- U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Ambassador
Stephen Bosworth is in China to meet with Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi on North Korean issues.
-- China sees Rebiya Kadeer as a criminal and ethnic separatist who
is only working to undermine China.
VISA POLICY IS A SOVEREIGN RIGHT
--------------------------------
2. In regards to the denial of visas to the producers of a film
regarding the earthquake in Sichuan, China stated the importance of
an individual country's sovereign right to determine its own policy
of visa issuance, said spokesperson Jiang Yu at the September 3
regularly scheduled MFA press conference. No comment would be made
on any individual's visa application, and China will continue to
provide visas for people who seek to enter for "normal activities,"
she added.
JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE
-----------------------
3. In response to question as to why China has not yet answered an
invitation by Australia and the United States to participate in a
joint military exercise, Jiang referred the questioner to the
Ministry of Defense.
VISIT TO CHINA OF AMBASSADOR STEPHEN BOSWORTH
---------------------------------------------
4. Jiang said U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy
Ambassador Stephen Bosworth is visiting China September 3-4 and will
meet with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Vice Foreign Minister Wu
Dawei. The two sides will exchange views on the North Korean
nuclear issue, Six Party Talks, and other issues.
VISIT TO CHINA BY NORTH KOREAN VICE FOREIGN MINISTER KIM YONG-IL
------------------------------- --------------------------------
5. North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong-Il is continuing his
visit to China and is now in Jiangsu province. His visit will
continue through September 5-6 in Beijing, where he will exchange
views with relevant PRC officials on bilateral relations and common
interests.
RIO TINTO
---------
6. In a question as to the status of the Rio Tinto case, Jiang
stated the Chinese judicial authority works "according to law" and
the Chinese - Australia consular agreement. She stated that China
hopes that the Australian side can join China to respect and
accommodate each other's concerns.
AMERICAN REPORTERS RELEASED FROM NORTH KOREA
--------------------------------------------
7. Jiang refused to confirm whether the two American reporters
recently released from North Korea were caught on Chinese soil or
not. When further pressed, she stated she had been very clear in
her answers on previous occasions. She said local authorities
carried out the investigation.
REBIYA KADEER
-------------
8. China's position on Rebiya Kadeer is that she is a criminal and
BEIJING 00002535 002 OF 002
an ethnic separatist. Jiang stated that foreign observers should
"recognize her true nature," that she spreads lies and rumors to
attack China, and her accusations are not "worthy of comment." When
asked for a response to former Australian Prime Minister John
Howard's comment that "Chinese diplomacy is closing," she said that
China promotes peace and stability and any individual who supports
Kadeer is "disgraceful," and puts his or her own image at stake.
INDONESIAN EARTHQUAKE
---------------------
9. Recent reports show no Chinese casualties in today's Indonesian
earthquake. China expresses its condolences to the victims, Jiang
said, and she further stated that the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia
has launched an emergency response system to assist Indonesian
authorities to help any victims.
XINJIANG PROTESTS
-----------------
10. Jiang noted no recent reports of violence but stated that the
PRC is competent to handle any situation.
CHINESE AND FRENCH RELATIONS
----------------------------
11. China and France are resuming development of respect and
accommodation of each other, and Jiang expressed China's hope for
celebrating in 2010 the two countries' 45th anniversary of bilateral
relations. She offered no information on future high-level
exchanges between the two countries.
G-20
----
12. Official Chinese attendance to the G-20 in Pittsburgh has not
yet been determined. Topics to be discussed are also still being
determined, but Jiang said they are certain to include addressing
the economic crisis and possible solutions.
AGREEMENT WITH CUBA
-------------------
13. Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress Wu Bangguo is currently visiting Cuba and meeting with
President Raul Castro. The delegation has already released a report
on the visit, but Jiang provided no further details concerning a
Chinese loan to Cuba of approximately $600 million.
CHINA ANNOUNCES COMING VISITS
-----------------------------
14. Upcoming visits to China include: President of the Central
African Republic Frangois Boziz Yangouvonda from September 9 - 13,
Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu September 7 - 10,
Nepali Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala September 8 - 13, and
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian September 10 - 14
September.
HUNTSMAN