JUNE 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINESE ARMS EXPORTS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 012175 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN SUBJECT: JUNE 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINESE ARMS EXPORTS, SCO SUMMIT, IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE, SIX-PARTY TALKS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND BEIJING CORRUPTION SCANDAL Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points made at the June 13 MFA press briefing are as follows: -- Amnesty International's recent reports that China's arms exports promote violence and human rights violations around the world are "groundless." China complies with its international obligations and has export controls in place to ensure responsible use. -- The upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit provides new opportunities for a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. President Hu will hold bilateral meetings with all SCO members and observers. -- Despite reports of a possible North Korean missile test and difficulties in the Six-Party Talks process, China hopes participants remain flexible and that there will be an early resumption of the talks. -- Recent U.S. House of Representatives criticisms of religious persecution in China are "slanderous." VFM Yang Jiechi will head China's delegation to the June 19-30 UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. -- The Spanish courts have "no right" to prosecute Chinese leaders for genocide in Tibet. China and Spain have a strategic partnership and China hopes Spain will handle the court cases "properly." -- The dismissal of Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Zhihua, who oversees city planning and Olympic-related construction projects, will not affect the upcoming 2008 games. Chinese Arms Exports -------------- ¶2. During the regular June 13 MFA press briefing, spokesman Jiang Yu called recent Amnesty International criticisms of China's arms exports "groundless". Asked by reporters to explain how China tracks and ensures responsible use of its military exports, Jiang stated that China adheres to three principles in arms trade: recipient countries must have a legitimate need, the arms sold will not destabilize either the recipient country or the neighboring region, and that the arms sales will not interfere with other countries' internal affairs. China exports far fewer arms than the United States, Jiang added, stating that between 2000-2004 the United States exported 25.9 billion USD in arms sales to China's 1.45 billion USD. China cooperates and conforms to its international obligations and follows a controlled export 
system that ensures end user controls to prevent export to third parties, Jiang explained. The SCO and Iranian Nuclear Issue -------------- ¶3. Asked to confirm whether President Putin will meet with Iranian President Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the upcoming SCO summit in Shanghai, Jiang stated only that President Hu Jintao will hold bilateral meetings with all SCO member and observer countries during the Shanghai SCO Summit. Brushing off questions of U.S. criticism of Iranian participation, Jiang stated that Iran was invited to the Summit based on the consensus view of all SCO members. The SCO provides new opportunities for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, Jiang said, and China appreciates Iran's willingness to hold a dialogue. ¶4. China hopes the Iranian nuclear situation will be resolved through talks, Jiang replied, when asked if China is ready to join the EU, United States and Russia in direct negotiations with Iran. China is in close contact with all the parties on the issue, Jiang said. China is playing a constructive role in finding a solution and will continue to make contributions through negotiations, Jiang affirmed, explaining that President Hu Jintao and PM Wen Jiabao have recently spoken to President Bush and German Chancellor Merkel about the matter. Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶5. The Six-Party Talks process is facing difficulties, Jiang said, when asked to comment on reports that North Korea may be readying a missile test. China hopes all parties can show flexibility and pragmatism and push for an early resumption of the talks. BEIJING 00012175 002 OF 002 Human Rights -------------- ¶6. The recent U.S. House of Representatives resolution criticizing religious persecution in China is full of "slanderous accusations," Jiang stated, when asked for comments. The resolution is groundless and constitutes gross interference in China's internal affairs. China protects religious freedom and speech in accordance with Chinese law, Jiang said. After recent reforms, China has made great progress in legal development, living standards, and human rights. Asked specifically what China expects from initial session of the UN Human Rights Council to be held June 19-30 in Geneva, Jiang confirmed that VFM Yang Jiechi will head the Chinese delegation. China hopes all the parties will respect the cultures, histories and religious rights of all nations, Jiang said. China hopes to avoid the double standards of the past wherein human rights dialogue was used solely as a pretext for political confrontation, Jiang added. Spanish Court Charges Chinese Leaders with Genocide -------------- -------------- ¶7. A recent court case filed in the Spanish National Court is utterly libelous, Jiang stated when questioned repeatedly by Spanish news reporters on whether the case will affect Sino-Spanish relations. The case, which charges seven Chinese leaders (including former President Jiang Zemin) with genocide in Tibet, is a politically motivated attempt to undermine Sino-Spanish relations, Jiang said. The Spanish courts have "no right" to prosecute such cases and China hopes Spain will properly handle the matter. China and Spain have a strategic partnership and China hopes Spain will make a joint effort to maintain healthy relations, Jiang said. ¶8. Questioned if China will ask for the return of two Falun Gong members for whom Spain has recently granted political asylum, Jiang stated that China is opposed to other countries interfering with China's internal affairs. Beijing Olympics Corruption Scandal -------------- ¶9. The dismissal of Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Zhihua, who oversees city planning and Olympic-related construction projects, will not affect the Olympics, Jiang stated, when asked by the Bloomberg reporter whether corruption scandals could affect the 2008 games. RANDT