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