DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON PROPOSAL FOR U.S.-CHINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 019895

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2026
TAGS: PARM KNNP CH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON PROPOSAL FOR U.S.-CHINA
SECURITY DIALOGUE

REF: STATE 153937

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai will review the
letter from U/S Joseph and the accompanying concept paper and
the Chinese Government will respond, Deputy Director General
for Arms Control and Disarmament Wu Haitao stated in response
to Polmincouns' delivery of reftel messages on September 19.
(With the Ambassador traveling outside Beijing, the MFA
indicated that Cui was unavailable but Wu should receive the
message.) Wu, stressing that he was raising a separate
matter, expressed Beijing's disappointment at U.S. sanctions
against Chinese entities. He criticized the recent testimony
of U.S. officials before the U.S.-China Economic Security
Review Commission on nonproliferation. Polmincouns said the
testimony reflects USG views and Beijing should do more to
prevent proliferation. End Summary.

Letter, Concept Paper Delivered
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2. (C) In response to Polmincouns' delivery of reftel
messages on September 19, Deputy Director General for Arms
Control and Disarmament Wu Haitao said he would pass the
letter from Under Secretary Joseph proposing a reinvigorated
U.S.-China Security Dialogue and the accompanying concept
paper to Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai for review
and that the Chinese Government would respond. (Note: With
the Ambassador traveling outside Beijing, the MFA indicated
that Cui was unavailable but Wu should receive the USG
message.) Wu noted that AFM Cui is very busy covering
sensitive and critical issues. Polmincouns stressed the
importance the USG attaches to our proposal for a
reinvigorated U.S.-China Security Dialogue.

China's "Extreme Disappointment" Over Sanctions
-------------- --


3. (C) Wu, emphasizing that he was raising a separate matter,
expressed Beijing's "extreme disappointment" at U.S.
sanctions against Chinese entities under Executive Order

13382. The United States and China should not only be
responsible stakeholders but constructive strategic partners
on nonproliferation and counterterrorism. Beijing is
carefully considering bilateral interactions on these issues
given "recent U.S. measures." Insisting that China's past
cooperation with the United States has helped not only the
bilateral relationship but also international
nonproliferation efforts, Wu said he does not understand why
the United States has taken the actions it has. "China is
hurt, especially those of us working hard to advance
nonproliferation," said Wu.

Chinese Concerns About Testimony
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4. (C) Beijing is examining carefully the recent testimony of
U.S. officials before the U.S.-China Economic Security Review
Commission and is carefully reconsidering how China will work
with the United States in the future, according to Wu. Wu
claimed Beijing took particular exception to the way the word
"proliferator" was used in the testimony, saying "this word
we cannot accept." Claims that Beijing is not fully meeting
its commitments under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) are "not true"
stated the DDG.

U.S. Response: China Should Do More
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5. (C) Polmincouns said the testimony reflects USG views.
Beijing should do more to enforce its nonproliferation
commitments with regard to the actions by the Chinese
entities that have been designated under Executive Order

13382. USG views on China's record on BW and CW issues are
the views outlined in the September 14 testimony, Polmincouns
affirmed.

Separate Matters
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6. (C) Wu again stressed as the meeting concluded that his
concerns about the USG testimony and the USG's designation of
Chinese entities are separate from the matter of how China

will respond to the USG proposal for a reinvigorated
U.S.-China Security Dialogue.
RANDT