NETHERLANDS/EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO: MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001796 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 TAGS: PREL PARM MARR PHUM CH NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO: MEETING WITH ASIAN ALLIES; GONL BRIEFING REQUEST REF: A. THE HAGUE 1779 ¶B. DEAN/REIDHEAD EMAIL 07/09/04 ¶C. KVOLKER/ASCHOFER EMAIL 07/15/04 ¶D. THE HAGUE 1660 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE DANIEL RUSSEL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D) ¶1. (C) Summary: PolCouns and PolMilOff met on July 16 with representatives from the Australian, Japanese and Korean Embassies in The Hague to discuss the EU's China arms embargo. Of the three, the Japanese have made the strongest approaches to the GONL on this issue. The Australians have raised it in a "measured" way and the Koreans have not discussed the matter with the Dutch in The Hague. EmbOffs outlined recent Embassy discussions on this issue with the GONL. EmbOffs also addressed USG concerns with respect to inadequacy of the EU Code of Conduct on arms transfers as a possible substitute for the embargo. Separately, Dutch MFA officials have recently expressed interest in a bilateral briefing on USG concerns with regard to specific weapons systems the Chinese seek to acquire. Post understands that an interagency team will brief PSC reps in Brussels on July 22 and may be able to brief in The Hague. Post strongly supports possible travel of this team to The Hague. End Summary. ¶2. (C) PolCouns and PolMilOff hosted Australian, Japanese and Korean EmbOffs to discuss the EU China arms embargo on July ¶16. Japanese First Secretary Osumi said the GOJ was emphasizing with the GONL its regional security concerns posed by a possible embargo lift. He noted the visit of UK FCO PolDir Sawers to Tokyo this month presents another opportunity for the GOJ to engage on this issue with European partners. Osumi also said the GOJ is internally reviewing the possible impact of an embargo lift. Australian Embassy Counselor Hart said the embargo had not been "on the top" of the GOA's agenda with the Dutch. The last time GOA officials had raised it with the Dutch was prior to their current EU Presidency when GOA officials were in Brussels for Asia bilaterals. Hart said Dutch MFA Asia Director Milders and Deputy PolDir Schaper argued that an embargo lift would not make much of a difference in "substance." Korean Embassy Counselor Lee said that while it was possible the ROKG had addressed the matter with the Dutch Embassy in Seoul, it had not done so in The Hague. ¶3. (C) EmbOffs outlined recent Embassy discussions with the GONL on the EU China arms embargo issue in general terms, and noted high-level USG interest in the matter including A/S Jones' July 13 meeting with EU PolDirs. EmbOffs also shared recent Department Public Diplomacy talking points on the embargo with interlocutors. EmbOffs outlined U.S. problems with the concept of the EU Code of Conduct on arms transfers as a possible substitute for an embargo. Our interlocutors agreed to report details of our conversation to capitals. Japanese First Secretary Osumi said he did not envision any high-level Japanese mission to The Hague on this issue. ¶4. (C) As indicated ref A, GONL officials continue to pull out all arguments to attempt to convince us that a decision to lift has already been made. Nevertheless, in recent discussions MFA interlocutors have told us the GONL would be interested in receiving on a bilateral basis a briefing regarding specific USG concerns about weapons systems the Chinese seek to acquire (ref B). We understand from ref C that Washington plans to send an interagency team to Brussels on July 22 to brief the PSC on this issue, and that the team might also be available to brief in The Hague. Post strongly supports such a briefing. MFA arms transfer policy Director Paul van den IJssel told PolMilOff on July 16 that MFA Security Policy Director Maurits Jochems (the Dutch "T" equivalent) would be able to host the team either July 21 or ¶23. Given the Netherlands' generally strong record in supporting our mutual nonproliferation goals, we judge it would be helpful to address specific nonproliferation concerns related to an embargo lift (i.e. potential Chinese re-engineering and re-export of EU origin systems) in addition to human rights and regional stability concerns. RUSSEL