Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING1057
2006-01-17 10:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

SENATOR MURKOWSKI HIGHLIGHTS U.S. CONCERNS ON

Tags:  PREL OREP CH KN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBJ #1057/01 0171039
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O 171039Z JAN 06
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5902
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001057 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OREP CH KN
SUBJECT: SENATOR MURKOWSKI HIGHLIGHTS U.S. CONCERNS ON
DPRK, ENERGY ISSUES IN BEIJING MEETINGS


SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001057

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OREP CH KN
SUBJECT: SENATOR MURKOWSKI HIGHLIGHTS U.S. CONCERNS ON
DPRK, ENERGY ISSUES IN BEIJING MEETINGS


SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) Senator Murkowski highlighted U.S. concerns
about the status of the Six-Party Talks during
meetings with NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo and CCP Central
Committee International Department Vice Minister Ma
Wenpu. Wu blamed mistrust between the United States
and DPRK for the current impasse in the talks, said
the Chinese leadership was fully engaged in trying to
persuade the DPRK to re-engage and urged U.S.
patience. Ma said the "last thing" China wants is
nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Neither Wu
nor Ma would comment on whether Kim Jong-il is
currently in China. With Wu and Vice Foreign Minister
Qiao Zonghuai, the Senator stressed the need for
energy cooperation and urged further bilateral
discussion concerning energy technology, efficiency
and expertise. Wu said China is prepared to work with
the United States on more issues of common interest.
He expressed appreciation for the United States'
consistent Taiwan policy, but stressed China's
continuing concerns about Chen Shui-bian's Taiwan
independence agenda. Qiao in turn shared Chinese
concerns about Japanese visits to the Yasukuni shrine.
Senator Murkowski reviewed plans for continued inter-
parliamentary exchanges and expressed interest in
returning to China to deepen her relationships and
understanding in discussions with Wu and NPC Vice
Chairman Sheng Huaren. End Summary.

Meeting with NPC Chairman
--------------


2. (SBU) NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo emphasized the
importance of strengthening ongoing exchanges between
the NPC and U.S. Congress in a January 13 meeting with
Senator Lisa Murkowski, noting that President Hu
Jintao had instructed him to "meet with more U.S.
Congressional representatives." The Ambassador
accompanied the Senator. Noting recent Summit
meetings between President Bush and President Hu, Wu
pointed to their agreement to develop constructive,
cooperative relations for the 21st century as a firm
basis for deepening bilateral relations. The United
States and China maintain close cooperation on "hot
issues" in the world such as counterterrorism,
nonproliferation, the DPRK and Iranian nuclear issues
and UN reform, he stated.


3. (SBU) Turning to the issue of Taiwan, Wu said the

cross-Strait situation has become more relaxed
recently. In 2005, there were two important Chinese
Government cross-Strait initiatives: passage of the
anti-secession law and more active promotion of
people-to-people and economic ties. There has also
been a change in popular will on Taiwan and a shift
away from support for Taiwan independence, as
evidenced in the results of the December mayoral
elections. He noted, however, that the root cause of
cross-Strait tensions remains and that Chen Shui-bian
is intent on pursuing his Taiwan independence agenda.
The key to maintaining stability is to check Taiwan
independence moves. China is grateful to the USG for
maintaining its one-China policy, voicing opposition
to Taiwan independence and to unilateral changes to
the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Senator
Murkowski replied that the United States interest was
in a resolution that maintained peace and stability in
the region.


4. (SBU) Noting that the United States appreciated
and relied on Chinese efforts to make progress on the
DPRK nuclear issue, Senator Murkowski asked for Wu's
ideas on moving the Six-Party Talks forward. Wu
responded that China's position supporting the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through
dialogue is consistent and that China sees eye-to-eye
with the United States on the need to start the next
phase of the talks as early as possible. There is a
big gap in confidence between the United States and
DPRK, making the issue more complicated. The Talks
are further complicated by other issues, such as the
recent financial sanctions imposed on the DPRK by the
United States. Wu urged patience on the part of the
United States, noting that the next stage of the talks
would be extremely difficult. He hoped that the issue
of sanctions, which he said is of great importance to
the DPRK, could be resolved. Senator Murkowski said
that the issue of counterfeiting is extremely
sensitive in the United States and could not be

BEIJING 00001057 002 OF 003


treated lightly. Wu noted that Macau authorities had
launched an independent investigation into the case,
which he hoped would provide a clearer picture of the
situation. In response to Senator Murkowski's comment
about DPRK leader Kim Jong-il possibly being in China,
Wu only noted that China's leadership raises the
nuclear issue with Kim Jong-il at every opportunity.


5. (SBU) Senator Murkowski expressed interest in
bilateral cooperation on energy development and
detailed U.S. efforts in exploration and development
of energy and in conservation. Wu said that 90
percent of China's energy comes from coal and that
Chinese annual oil imports decreased by 5.6 percent in

2005. He welcomed future bilateral energy
cooperation, noting China is pursuing a robust program
to develop nuclear, hydro and wind power. The Chinese
Government is subsidizing development of household
methane gas in the countryside, which Wu said has met
with considerable success.

Meeting with CPC Vice Minister
--------------


6. (SBU) At a meeting with Senator Murkowski on
January 12, Communist Party of China (CPC) Vice
Minister of the Central Committee International
Department Ma Wenpu lauded the steady and sound
development of Sino-American ties. President Hu
Jintao had very successful meetings with President
Bush in New York and Beijing last year, reaching
consensus on the comprehensive promotion of bilateral
relations in the 21st Century.


7. (SBU) Noting this was her first trip to China,
Senator Murkowski said she discussed North Korea and
the Six-Party Talks with leaders in South Korea and
Japan prior to her Beijing stop and asked for Ma's
views on prospects for progress. Ma stated that China
seeks peace, stability and denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula. The last thing China would want to
see is nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula.
China's most important diplomatic relations are with
the United States and there is bilateral cooperation
and consensus on the North Korean nuclear question.
At the same time, China has traditional and neighborly
relations with the DPRK. China is working to persuade
North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks, but
wishes for the Parties to avoid any actions that
incite or add complexity to the issue.


8. (SBU) The previous four Rounds of the Talks have
brought about good results, Ma continued, and the
September 2005 joint agreement was a hard-won success.
Future Talks must resolve implementation of the
September agreement in concrete detail, so the Six-
Party Talks have become more complex and difficult.
The United States should trust China's good offices as
China works officially and privately to bring the Six-
Party Talks back on track. But it is hard to say when
the next round of Talks will begin.


9. (SBU) Senator Murkowski pressed Ma with the lack
of optimism she heard in Korea and Japan and the
importance of the five consensus Parties speaking with
one voice on denuclearization of North Korea. Ma said
that he shares the same view, and reiterated that
China could not see its neighbor develop nuclear
weapons.

Meeting with Vice Foreign Minister
--------------


10. (SBU) On January 13, Senator Murkowski and Vice
Foreign Minister Qiao exchanged views about bilateral
cooperation, the North Korean nuclear issue, China's
relations with Japan, Taiwan and energy. Qiao
expressed appreciation for the Senator's visit as an
important way to begin 2006 and continue the pattern
of important bilateral exchanges established during

2005. Senator Murkowski agreed, and said she looks
forward to continuing involvement in parliamentary
exchange.


11. (SBU) Responding to the Senator's question about
the Six-Party Talks, Qiao said China believes that if
the nuclear issue can be resolved, other issues
ranging from financial sanctions and counterfeiting to
the abduction issue, can then be dealt with. On
Japan, Qiao repeated China's oft-heard position that
visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and Japan's refusal to

BEIJING 00001057 003 OF 003


acknowledge responsibility for WWII remains
unacceptable. Developing good relations with Japan,
however, remains a priority for China.


12. (SBU) Senator Murkowski raised energy cooperation
and urged further bilateral discussion concerning
energy technology, efficiency and expertise. Qiao
raised Taiwan, noting that the Mainland's invitation
for Taiwanese political leaders to visit, the zero-
tariff it applied to Taiwanese fruit and the decision
last week to send two pandas to Taiwan illustrate the
Mainland's goodwill and desire to resolve the Taiwan
issue peacefully.

Meeting with National People's Congress Vice Chairman
-------------- --------------


13. (SBU) During a dinner meeting January 12, National
People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Vice
Chairman and Secretary General Sheng Huaren told
Senator Murkowski that friendships forged through the
NPC-Congress Interparliamentary Group increase mutual
understanding and trust between the United States and
China. Noting that he met Senators Stevens and Inouye
(co-chairmen of the U.S. Senate-China NPC
Parliamentary Group) in Hawaii January 4-5, Sheng
reported that they had decided to hold the next
official round of NPC-Congress exchange meetings
August 6-11 in China, with August 6-9 in Guilin,
followed by August 10-11 meetings in Beijing with PRC
leadership. They agreed that the topics for
discussion would be energy, international and regional
issues including the nuclear issue on the Korean
peninsula, national defense and security, China-U.S.
trade and China's peaceful development. Sheng said he
anticipates the 2007 round to be held in Alaska in
response to Senator Stevens' invitation.


14. (SBU) Senator Murkowski thanked Sheng for his
hospitality and remarked that as the East Asia
Subcommittee Chair she anticipates returning to China
again to build on friendships and continue dialogue to
gain better understanding of the relationship between
China, Korea, Japan and the United States. Indicating
that she is eager to learn about China's growing
energy needs and its leadership role in the Six-Party
Talks, Senator Murkowski said Alaska appreciates China
as an export market for timber and remarked that a
trade delegation would visit in March to promote
Alaska wild salmon exports.


15. CODEL did not clear this cable.
Randt