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
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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
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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
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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