Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING21987
2006-10-17 10:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
OCTOBER 17 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UNSCR 1718;
how-toVZCZCXRO1294 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #1987/01 2901001 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 171001Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0003 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 021987
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 17 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UNSCR 1718;
CHINA-DPRK BORDER CONTROLS; SECRETARY RICE VISIT; NEPAL
BORDER SHOOTING
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 021987
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 17 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UNSCR 1718;
CHINA-DPRK BORDER CONTROLS; SECRETARY RICE VISIT; NEPAL
BORDER SHOOTING
1. Key Points made at the October 17 Press Briefing were:
-- China will implement UNSCR 1718 seriously and in a
responsible manner.
-- Regarding reports that China is controlling truck traffic
from China to North Korea and that banks in Dandong are
restricting transfers of money into North Korea, China is
obliged and will follow strictly the measures described in
UNSCR 1718.
-- Begun in 1990, China's boundary defense plan includes
setting up wire netting and creating patrol roads in border
areas, including along China's border with North Korea but
this not related to the DPRK's recent nuclear test.
-- China noticed the DPRK's statement calling UNSCR 1718 "an
act of war" but the important thing is for all parties to
refrain from escalating tension.
-- China firmly opposes any North Korean nuclear test, is
committed to denuclearization and opposes nuclear
proliferation. UNSCR 1718 sent an important message to North
Korea and requires the DPRK to take a responsible attitude.
-- China has always provided humanitarian assistance to North
Korea and will continue to do so.
-- Japan, as an NPT signatory, must stick to the three "no
nuclear principles."
-- Secretary Rice will visit China October 20-21.
-- France's President Chirac will visit China October 25-28.
-- All relevant information has already been released about
television footage showing Chinese border patrol officials
shooting apparently unarmed Tibetans crossing from China into
Nepal.
DPRK Nuclear Test and UNSCR 1718
--------------
2. At the October 17 regularly scheduled MFA Press Briefing,
Spokesperson Liu Jianchao said China will implement UNSC
Resolution 1718 seriously and in a responsible manner, but
would not comment on news reports that China was imposing
additional controls on trucks crossing into North Korea from
China or that banks in Dandong were not allowing Chinese to
send money to the DPRK. When pressed on the issue of
possible Chinese financial sanctions, Liu said UNSCR 1718 has
a clear description of measures to be taken towards North
Korea, China and all nations are obliged to follow 1718, and
any other questions regarding financial matters should be
referred to Chinese commercial authorities.
3. Responding to a question about China building a wall
along its border with North Korea, Liu said that since 1990,
China has gradually implemented a boundary defense plan that
includes setting up wire netting and creating patrol roads in
border areas. Emphasizing that any current activity along
China's border with North Korea is not related to the DPRK's
recent nuclear test, Liu stated the purpose of putting up
netting is to improve border control and maintain order in
border areas and that the current situation along the
China-DPRK border is normal.
4. Liu said China noticed the DPRK's statement calling UNSCR
1718 "an act of war" but the important thing is for all
parties to refrain from escalating tension, to make efforts
to resume the Six-Party Talks and to resolve issues through
dialogue and consultation in order to maintain peace and
stability on the Korean Peninsula.
5. When asked to comment on rumors of another DPRK nuclear
test, Liu responded that China firmly opposes any North
Korean nuclear test, is committed to denuclearization and
opposes nuclear proliferation. UNSCR 1718 sent an important
message to North Korea and requires the DPRK to take a
responsible attitude, said Liu. UNSCR 1718 is the common
expression of the will of the international community, said
Liu, and all parties should exercise restraint.
6. Responding to a question about China's Ambassador to the
UN Wang Guangya's statement that Beijing would not stop or
board DPRK ships, Liu said UNSCR 1718 shows UN consensus and
sends a strong message to the DPRK that its actions were
unacceptable. To improve the current situation, all parties
must act to relax tensions, said Liu. Actions that could
further worsen the situation will not help the common
interest of resolving the issue peacefully, he said.
BEIJING 00021987 002 OF 002
7. China is acting on the assumption that the DPRK did, in
fact, conduct a nuclear test on October 9, and as more
information is made available it appears clear that such a
test did occur, said Liu.
CHINA'S FOOD AID TO DPRK AND HEALTH MINISTER VISIT
-------------- --------------
8. In response to a comment that the World Food Program
reported China reduced its food aid to the DPRK by two-thirds
in recent months, Liu said he was not sure where the reporter
got his statistics as China has always provided humanitarian
assistance to North Korea and will continue to do so as it is
the correct thing to do.
9. Liu had no information about a purported visit by the
Chinese Minister of Health to Pyongyang or about any other
Chinese official contact with the DPRK.
JAPAN'S NUCLEAR OPTION
--------------
10. China's reaction to recent comments by Japanese
officials that Japan should examine its own nuclear options
is that Japan, as an NPT signatory, must stick to the three
"no nuclear principles," said Liu.
SECRETARY RICE TO VISIT OCTOBER 20-21
SIPDIS
--------------
11. Liu confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Rice will
visit China October 20-21 at the invitation of Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing. She will meet with FM Li and other
Chinese officials.
FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC TO VISIT OCTOBER 25-28
-------------- -
12. France's President Chirac will visit China October 25-28
at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, said Liu, noting
that as both China and France are members of the UNSC the
issue of North Korea will likely be discussed.
CHINA-NEPAL BORDER SHOOTING
--------------
13. Liu said he had no new information or comments about
television footage showing Chinese border patrol officials
shooting apparently unarmed Tibetans crossing from China into
Nepal, stating that all relevant information is already
released.
Randt
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 17 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UNSCR 1718;
CHINA-DPRK BORDER CONTROLS; SECRETARY RICE VISIT; NEPAL
BORDER SHOOTING
1. Key Points made at the October 17 Press Briefing were:
-- China will implement UNSCR 1718 seriously and in a
responsible manner.
-- Regarding reports that China is controlling truck traffic
from China to North Korea and that banks in Dandong are
restricting transfers of money into North Korea, China is
obliged and will follow strictly the measures described in
UNSCR 1718.
-- Begun in 1990, China's boundary defense plan includes
setting up wire netting and creating patrol roads in border
areas, including along China's border with North Korea but
this not related to the DPRK's recent nuclear test.
-- China noticed the DPRK's statement calling UNSCR 1718 "an
act of war" but the important thing is for all parties to
refrain from escalating tension.
-- China firmly opposes any North Korean nuclear test, is
committed to denuclearization and opposes nuclear
proliferation. UNSCR 1718 sent an important message to North
Korea and requires the DPRK to take a responsible attitude.
-- China has always provided humanitarian assistance to North
Korea and will continue to do so.
-- Japan, as an NPT signatory, must stick to the three "no
nuclear principles."
-- Secretary Rice will visit China October 20-21.
-- France's President Chirac will visit China October 25-28.
-- All relevant information has already been released about
television footage showing Chinese border patrol officials
shooting apparently unarmed Tibetans crossing from China into
Nepal.
DPRK Nuclear Test and UNSCR 1718
--------------
2. At the October 17 regularly scheduled MFA Press Briefing,
Spokesperson Liu Jianchao said China will implement UNSC
Resolution 1718 seriously and in a responsible manner, but
would not comment on news reports that China was imposing
additional controls on trucks crossing into North Korea from
China or that banks in Dandong were not allowing Chinese to
send money to the DPRK. When pressed on the issue of
possible Chinese financial sanctions, Liu said UNSCR 1718 has
a clear description of measures to be taken towards North
Korea, China and all nations are obliged to follow 1718, and
any other questions regarding financial matters should be
referred to Chinese commercial authorities.
3. Responding to a question about China building a wall
along its border with North Korea, Liu said that since 1990,
China has gradually implemented a boundary defense plan that
includes setting up wire netting and creating patrol roads in
border areas. Emphasizing that any current activity along
China's border with North Korea is not related to the DPRK's
recent nuclear test, Liu stated the purpose of putting up
netting is to improve border control and maintain order in
border areas and that the current situation along the
China-DPRK border is normal.
4. Liu said China noticed the DPRK's statement calling UNSCR
1718 "an act of war" but the important thing is for all
parties to refrain from escalating tension, to make efforts
to resume the Six-Party Talks and to resolve issues through
dialogue and consultation in order to maintain peace and
stability on the Korean Peninsula.
5. When asked to comment on rumors of another DPRK nuclear
test, Liu responded that China firmly opposes any North
Korean nuclear test, is committed to denuclearization and
opposes nuclear proliferation. UNSCR 1718 sent an important
message to North Korea and requires the DPRK to take a
responsible attitude, said Liu. UNSCR 1718 is the common
expression of the will of the international community, said
Liu, and all parties should exercise restraint.
6. Responding to a question about China's Ambassador to the
UN Wang Guangya's statement that Beijing would not stop or
board DPRK ships, Liu said UNSCR 1718 shows UN consensus and
sends a strong message to the DPRK that its actions were
unacceptable. To improve the current situation, all parties
must act to relax tensions, said Liu. Actions that could
further worsen the situation will not help the common
interest of resolving the issue peacefully, he said.
BEIJING 00021987 002 OF 002
7. China is acting on the assumption that the DPRK did, in
fact, conduct a nuclear test on October 9, and as more
information is made available it appears clear that such a
test did occur, said Liu.
CHINA'S FOOD AID TO DPRK AND HEALTH MINISTER VISIT
-------------- --------------
8. In response to a comment that the World Food Program
reported China reduced its food aid to the DPRK by two-thirds
in recent months, Liu said he was not sure where the reporter
got his statistics as China has always provided humanitarian
assistance to North Korea and will continue to do so as it is
the correct thing to do.
9. Liu had no information about a purported visit by the
Chinese Minister of Health to Pyongyang or about any other
Chinese official contact with the DPRK.
JAPAN'S NUCLEAR OPTION
--------------
10. China's reaction to recent comments by Japanese
officials that Japan should examine its own nuclear options
is that Japan, as an NPT signatory, must stick to the three
"no nuclear principles," said Liu.
SECRETARY RICE TO VISIT OCTOBER 20-21
SIPDIS
--------------
11. Liu confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Rice will
visit China October 20-21 at the invitation of Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing. She will meet with FM Li and other
Chinese officials.
FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC TO VISIT OCTOBER 25-28
-------------- -
12. France's President Chirac will visit China October 25-28
at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, said Liu, noting
that as both China and France are members of the UNSC the
issue of North Korea will likely be discussed.
CHINA-NEPAL BORDER SHOOTING
--------------
13. Liu said he had no new information or comments about
television footage showing Chinese border patrol officials
shooting apparently unarmed Tibetans crossing from China into
Nepal, stating that all relevant information is already
released.
Randt