Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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04THEHAGUE1846 | 2004-07-22 14:30:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy The Hague |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001846 |
1. (C) Summary: Post coordinated a July 21 briefing for Dutch officials on U.S. concerns regarding a possible lift of the EU China arms embargo. MFA hosted the briefing which was also attended by GONL officials from MOD, Ministry of Economic Affairs and the PM's office. DRL Senior Advisor Susan O'Sullivan and EAP Analyst John Culver outlined in detail the nature of USG concerns related to Chinese human rights practices and its recent military buildup. Dutch interlocutors appreciated the broad scope of the briefing, describing the Chinese military buildup as disturbing. They also acknowledged that U.S. and Japanese invocation of their strategic interests was relevant to EU deliberations. The Dutch side also repeated previous arguments in favor of replacing the embargo with an enhanced EU Code of Conduct on arms transfers and asserted that China's current human rights practices could be viewed in a glass half empty/half full context. End Summary. 2. (C) MFA Security Policy Bureau Director Maurits Jochems hosted the July 21 briefing for Dutch officials by DRL Senior Advisor Susan O'Sullivan and EAP Analyst John Culver. Present were MFA Amb. for Human Rights Piet de Klerk, representatives from MFA's Security Policy, Political Affairs and Asian Affairs offices as well as from Dutch military intelligence, Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Prime Minister's office. O'Sullivan and Culver provided comprehensive overviews of U.S. human rights and regional stability concerns regarding China followed by a question and answer session. 3. (C) Jochems opened the question period by describing the report on China's military buildup as disturbing. He noted that the Japanese had also raised concerns about lifting the embargo with the GONL. He observed that China's rapid economic development provided a basis for rapid military modernization irrespective of EU action, and asked whether maintaining the embargo was relevant given Chinese progress in spite of it. Jochems said the GONL was looking at options to enhance the EU's Code of Conduct on arms transfers, e.g., a Code of Conduct Plus or Double Plus which would also capture dual use items. Finally, he suggested that the large presence of western, including Dutch, technology and manufacturing companies in China was already a major factor in China's buildup. 4. (C) Jaap Werner, Director of MFA's Political Affairs Bureau (PolDir Siblesz's office), acknowledged that it was relevant to EU decision-making if the U.S. and the Japanese invoked their strategic interest in this matter. On the other hand, Werner suggested, China's military buildup might be understood in the context of its territorial problem or perhaps as a world power asserting itself. He asked pointedly why the U.S. preferred the embargo to a stronger, more effective Code of Conduct. Werner also argued that it was important to take into account positive trends in China's human rights and security practices, and suggested that an increased EU-China relationship could provide enhanced opportunities for engaging on issues of concern. 5. (C) Margarita Bot, MFA Deputy Director for Asian Affairs, claimed China's human rights practices could be viewed in terms of a glass half empty or half full. She also suggested that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan might be a factor in China's rapid military buildup. The three Dutch military intelligence officers present disputed none of the conclusions and expressed interest in hearing more about China's military buildup. 6. (C) While acknowledging some progress by China on human rights during the last fifteen years, the U.S. side stressed the consistent lack of tolerance by the PRC of anyone speaking out in criticism of the regime, noting the significant numbers of detainees. We also observed that the Chinese would treat an embargo lift as a significant propaganda victory. Noting Taiwan's decreased defense budget the U.S. side flatly rejected the suggestion that China's buildup was tied to increased U.S. arms sales. 7. (C) Comment: The senior officials present (especially Jochems, Werner, and Bot) generally stuck to previously expressed comments (ref B) in their interventions, and did not challenge the validity of the information presented by the briefers. As noted in previous reporting, the strong Dutch desire for a successful EU-China Summit on their watch as EU President (refs A-C) has offset to a large degree traditional Dutch concerns regarding human rights and regional stability. This timely briefing served as a useful reminder that these concerns remain valid, and that the U.S. will not allow them to be swept under the rug for the sake of EU unity. Post very much appreciates the efforts of Susan O'Sullivan and John Culver in presenting such a detailed and thorough briefing on very short notice. End Comment. RUSSEL |