JUNE 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: MILITARY DEVELOPMENT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 011382 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM CH JP KN SUBJECT: JUNE 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: MILITARY DEVELOPMENT, TIP, DPRK ENERGY AGREEMENT, TIBET GENOCIDE CASE, YEN LOANS, LAI CHANGXING, MILITARY PLANE CRASH Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points made at the June 6 MFA press briefing are as follows: -- The United States maintains the largest military expenditure in the world and has "no reason" to criticize China's military development. -- China is making significant progress in combating human trafficking and is prepared to step up international cooperation in this area. -- China and North Korea reached an agreement on oil resource development in the Bohai Sea. -- The "so-called" Tibet genocide case being heard by a Spanish court is "complete libel" against China. -- While yen loans represent a positive factor in China-Japan relations, it is unfortunate that some people in Japan have turned it into a sensitive issue. -- China's cooperation with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members will not undermine other countries' interest nor lead to military frictions. -- China has called on Canada to repatriate fugitive Lai Changxing as soon as possible. -- President Hu Jintao has expressed condolences to the families of victims of a military plane crash in Anhui Province. -- The Latin American Parliament will send a delegation to China June 12. -- China will give positive consideration to participation in the September 10-11 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). End Summary. PRC Military Development -------------- ¶2. Asked during the regular June 6 MFA press briefing to comment on Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's recent statements on China's military development, MFA Spokesperson Liu Jianchao asserted that the United States maintains the largest military expenditure in the world and has "no reason" to criticize China. Such remarks are unacceptable, Liu remarked. China's military development is of a "defensive nature" and does not pose a threat to any other party. China has no history of invading other countries, he stated. TIP Report -------------- ¶3. Questioned about the 2006 U.S. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, Liu asserted that China attaches great importance to protecting its people's rights and combating human trafficking, especially of women and children. The number of human trafficking cases in China is dropping, and the country is making significant progress in this area. Noting that TIP is an international problem, Liu stressed Beijing's willingness to step up international cooperation in combating human trafficking, particularly of women and children. DPRK FM's Visit, Joint Energy Exploration Agreement -------------- -------------- ¶4. DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun's May 30-June 6 visit to China was a success, Liu commented, noting that Paek and Chinese officials exchanged views on a range of regional and international issues, including the DPRK nuclear issue. Beijing hopes the parties can adopt a flexible and pragmatic attitude in order to promote the Six-Party Talks. Asked by the Reuters correspondent about the reported signing of a China- North Korea agreement on joint oil exploration in the BEIJING 00011382 002 OF 003 Bohai Sea, Liu remarked that on the basis of equal- footed consultations, the two countries reached an agreement on oil resource development in the Bohai Sea. Agreements on the specific arrangements will also be signed. Tibet Case Tried by Spanish Court is "Libel" -------------- ¶5. Asked by the Spanish News Agency correspondent about a Spanish Court's hearing of a trial on Tibetan genocide claims, Liu argued that the "so-called" genocide in Tibet is "complete libel" and a "fabrication" against China. The Tibet issue is China's internal affair, he asserted, stressing that Beijing opposes other countries' attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs based on the pretext of the Tibet issue. Beijing hopes the relevant parties will understand the "Dalai Lama group's" separatist nature and not give it a venue to conduct separatist activities. Liu stressed that China and Spain should respect each other on the basis of bilateral consensus, remarking that Beijing hopes that this episode will not damage bilateral ties. Resumption of Japanese Yen Loans -------------- ¶6. Asked about Japan's decision to resume low- interest yen loans to China and whether the issue was discussed by the two countries' foreign ministers in Doha, Liu stated that the two FMs did not raise this topic. The loans represent a "positive factor" in bilateral relations. It is unfortunate, however, that some people in Japan have turned it into a sensitive issue, a move that is not beneficial for either country, Liu remarked. Beijing welcomes the attention placed by Tokyo on bilateral relations, but Japan has not done enough, he asserted, calling on Japan to take concrete and earnest measures. Asked whether FMs Li and Aso will meet at the ASEAN Plus Three meeting in Malaysia, Liu replied that the two countries have not yet begun discussing the issue. SCO Cooperation Not Targeted at Any Third Party -------------- -- ¶7. Asked by the Bloomberg correspondent about speculations that energy cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) could spark U.S.-China frictions, Liu asserted that SCO cooperation will play a positive role in regional peace, stability and development. Member states have agreed that the SCO is an "open" organization and a non-alliance which does not target or attempt to exclude any third party. The SCO is prepared to establish relations and promote mutual trust with other organizations and countries. Energy is an important component of SCO cooperation, which is conducted on the basis of mutual benefit and non- exclusivity. China's cooperation with SCO members will not undermine other countries' interest nor lead to military frictions, Liu concluded. Li Changxing -------------- ¶8. Questioned about a Canadian court's recent ruling on fugitive Li Changxing, Liu stated that China has called on Canada to repatriate Lai as soon as possible. Military Plane Crash -------------- ¶9. Asked about a reported Chinese military plane crash in Anhui Province, Liu remarked that this was an unfortunate incident. President Hu Jintao has expressed his condolences to the victims' families. Latin American Parliament Delegation -------------- BEIJING 00011382 003 OF 003 ¶10. Liu noted that the Latin American Parliament will send a delegation to China June 12. The group will meet Vice Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang and another Chinese leader. ASEM Summit -------------- ¶11. Asked whether President Hu or Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the September 10-11 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Helsinki, Liu noted that the meeting convenes at the prime minister-level. China has attended all previous ASEM Summits and will give positive consideration to participation this year. RANDT