Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING11382
2006-06-06 09:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

JUNE 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: MILITARY DEVELOPMENT,

Tags:  PREL PHUM CH JP KN 
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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
-------

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