CHINESE EMBASSY WANTS TO BUILD LINKS WITH U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 007460

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/CM
OSD FOR OSD/ISA (CHINA AND THAILAND)
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL MASS MARR CH TH
SUBJECT: CHINESE EMBASSY WANTS TO BUILD LINKS WITH U.S.
EMBASSY IN BANGKOK

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Alexander A. Arvizu. Reason 1.4
(a and d)


1. (C) Summary. As part of our ongoing effort to follow
China's growing influence in Thailand, the Ambassador hosted
a reception on December 1 for the PRC Embassy at the
Residence. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan called for
greater dialogue between the U.S. and China on a wide variety
of issues and endorsed more frequent contact between the two
embassies. Zhang will host a reception for the U.S. Embassy
during Chinese New Year. The Chinese Defense Attache was
extremely well-briefed on recent exchanges between senior
U.S. and Chinese military officials and suggested that
Beijing would welcome bilateral cooperation on maritime
security, disaster prevention and PKO training in Southeast
Asia. The Chinese DCM is slated to be the PRC's next
Ambassador to Laos. End Summary.

REGULAR GET TOGETHER


2. (C) As part of post's effort to monitor more closely PRC
relations with Thailand and ASEAN, the Ambassador hosted a
reception for 23 members of the Chinese Embassy on December 1
at the Residence. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan and
Defense Attache, Senior Colonel An Zuoshan, were the senior
Chinese present. Ambassador Zhang made it clear that he
welcomes the opportunity to build a relationship with the
Embassy and suggested that there are a number of issues in
Thailand that lend themselves to cooperation between the
United States and China. Beyond Avian Flu and counter
narcotics, Zhang noted that both countries have an interest
in maritime security. Zhang, a former DG for the PRC MFA's
Asia Department, suggested that Thailand provides a
convenient venue to discuss regional issues as well. Of
note, neither Zhang nor An mentioned our differences over
Taiwan.

PRC DEFENSE ATTACHE SUGGESTS GREATER MIL MIL COOPERATION
SOUGHT BY BEIJING


3. (C) Senior Colonel An (a Brigadier equivalent) was
extremely well briefed on recent high-level visits by U.S.
defense officials to Beijing. He said that the highlights of
Secretary Rumsfeld's October meeting with PRC Defense

SIPDIS
Minister General Cao Gangchuan had been widely circulated
within the PLA and that China was sincere in its desire to
find areas of mutual interest and cooperation. An was also
knowledgeable about PACOM Commander ADM Fallon's recent trip
to Beijing during which Fallon called for greater
transparency within the PLA. An told PolOff that we must
work together to avoid future crises such as the Belgrade
Embassy bombing and the EP-3 incident. "It is our job in the
field to find ways to build trust," he said.


4. (C) An served as the Chinese Defense Attache in
Kyrgyzstan in the late 1990's, during which he shaped a
number of counter terrorism programs under the aegis of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He highlighted Sino-U.S.
cooperation in counter terrorism as a major factor in
improving bilateral relations. He suggested that China was
interested in building on that cooperation in Southeast Asia
by jointly looking at maritime security issues. He also
mentioned disaster relief preparation and peace keeping
training as other areas worth exploring together.

CHINESE DCM TO BE NEW AMBASSADOR TO LAOS


5. (C) PRC DCM Pan Guangxue was unable to attend the
reception. Nonetheless, his staff informed us that Pan is to
be the PRC's next Ambassador to Laos. Previously, Pan told
us about his command of the Lao language and his having
served as former President Jiang Zemin's interpreter on trips
to Vientiane.

BIO NOTES


6. (C) Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan was born in 1947 in
Guangxi. He is married to Tang Lizhen, a former Education
Ministry official. They have one son. Zhang speaks
excellent Thai and passable English. He has previously
served as DG for the Asian Department at the PRC MFA and as
Ambassador to Singapore and Nepal. He is purported to be a
protege of former Vice-Premier Qian Qichen.
Senior Colonel An Zuoshan was born in 1950 in Jilin. He is
married to Wang Ling. They have a 28 year old married
daughter. An speaks excellent Russian and good English. He
is an expert on counter terrorism and Central Asia.
Engaging, intelligent and well-informed, An is a vast
improvement over the previous Chinese DATT. We view his
appointment to Bangkok as another example of the PRC's
emphasis on putting top-flight staff into their embassy here.
BOYCE