OCTOBER 31 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK, CHINA-AFRICA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 022983 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM CH PK KN SUBJECT: OCTOBER 31 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK, CHINA-AFRICA SUMMIT, IRAN'S URANIUM ENRICHMENT, U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN, CHINA-PAKISTAN STRATEGIC DIALOGUE, CHINA'S RESERVES AND ASEAN, EU MEETINGS ¶1. Key Points made at the October 31 Press Briefing were: -- Japan's demand that North Korea not rejoin the Six-Party Talks as a nuclear power can be handled within the framework of the Talks. -- There has been no change in China's policy regarding the normal trade relations with the DPRK. -- The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit is a milestone in China-Africa relations. The attendance of Zimbabwe President Mugabe and Sudan President Bashir at FOCAC is not cause for embarrassment. -- China hopes relevant parties will not take escalating measures amid news of Iran's continued uranium enrichment. -- U.S. arms sales to Taiwan allegedly violate the Three Joint Communiques and the AIT Director's recent remarks on the subject were "erroneous." -- Assistant Foreign Minister Cui and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Khan reached consensus on several important issues SIPDIS in their October 27 strategic dialogue. -- China will not irresponsibly use its over one trillion dollars in reserves to upset the global economy. -- Premier Wen and Indonesian President Yudhoyono met at the October 30-31 China-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Nanning. -- Premier Wen Jiabao and the EU leadership reached a consensus during meetings in September to map out future cooperation. -- President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory note to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva on his successful re-election. North Korea: Six-Party Talks, Border Trade -------------- ¶2. MFA Spokesperson Liu Jianchao reiterated China's stance that Six-Party Talks must restart and press ahead with the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. China firmly believes the Talks must be resumed in order to relax tensions. In reply to a Kyoto News question over how China will handle Japan's demand that North Korea not rejoin the Talks as a nuclear power, Liu said each party's concerns will be addressed within the process, including Japan's. ¶3. There has been no change in China's policy regarding the normal trade relations with the DPRK which are aimed at improving the livelihoods of the North Korean population, Liu said in response to a question about reports that China cut fuel exports to North Korea in September. Liu reminded the reporter that in September the North Koreans had not yet conducted a nuclear test. ¶4. Global Radio News asked for China's position on NGO reports claiming the DPRK committed crimes against political prisoners. Liu replied that China will follow the UN Charter's principles for peaceful co-existence. China-Africa Summit -------------- ¶5. The attendance of Zimbabwe President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Sudan President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir at the November 1-3 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was not cause for embarrassment said Liu. The FOCAC Summit is a milestone in China-Africa relations that will promote good relations and cultural and economic cooperation and therefore should be viewed with a long-term perspective. ¶6. Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and Guinea-Bissau President Joao Bernardo Vieira have already arrived in Beijing and the latter is expected to meet with Premier Wen, Liu said in response to a Portuguese News Agency question asking if there would be any new oil agreements resulting from the meeting. Responding to a follow-up question over whether countries that recognize Taiwan instead of China had been invited to the China-Africa Summit, Liu said that he had no information on countries that did not have diplomatic ties with China. ¶7. Liu confirmed a Bloomberg question over planned strict BEIJING 00022983 002 OF 003 traffic restrictions in effect during the Summit, stating that FOCAC was the first meeting of its kind since 1949 and merited such measures, including traffic control, to ensure a successful and smooth event. He said the traffic controls will naturally affect people "a little" but that feedback from Beijing residents showed they understood and supported the measures. Iran Uranium Enrichment -------------- ¶8. China has taken note of the new developments in the Iran nuclear issue and believes that under the circumstances the relevant parties should not take any measures that could escalate the situation, said Liu in response to a question by AFP. China will continue to consult other members of the UN Security Council on the issue. AIT Statements on Arms Sales and Taiwan Defense -------------- -- ¶9. U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan violate U.S. commitments in the Three Joint Communiques, in particular the August 17 communique, Liu said in a prepared statement. Liu was responding to an apparently planted question by the China News Agency asking for comment on an October 26 press briefing by the U.S. AIT Director calling for Taiwan to pass a robust defense budget in its Fourth Legislative Session. Liu added that U.S. weapons sales undermine China's national security and the historical unification of China and Taiwan. ¶10. Liu further stated that China has made solemn representations to the U.S. government regarding the "erroneous remarks" and urges the United States to strictly abide by the repeatedly stated comments made by President Bush and the U.S. government regarding the One China Policy, the Three Joint Communiques and the position on Taiwan independence. The United States should stop its weapons sales to Taiwan and its military links with Taiwan, refrain from sending wrong signals to Taiwan secessionist forces and take concrete actions to maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and overall interest of China-U.S. relations. U.S. Congressional Censure of China -------------- ¶11. The U.S. Congress should do more to be objective, constructive and play a positive role in promoting U.S.-China relations instead of making unfair judgment or comment on China, Liu responded to a Reuters' question about a recent report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission that recommended taking China to the WTO over currency and counterfeiting claims. Liu added that China still awaits official release of the report. China Reserves Top One Trillion -------------- ¶12. China is a responsible member of the global community, and as such, will enact politically and economically responsible policies, said Liu in response to a CNN reporter asking for reassurances that China would not take any measures that would upset the global economy with the over one trillion dollars China now has in reserves. Tibet Border Shooting -------------- ¶13. The relevant authorities have already briefed the press on the shooting incident on the Tibet-Nepal border, Liu said in response to an ITV London journalist stating that footage of the shooting demonstrates that the border troops had not acted in self defense. Liu said he had nothing new to add except that it was the responsibility of the border troops to maintain tranquility and peace along the border. Recent Visit by Pakistan Foreign Secretary -------------- ¶14. Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan reached consensus on a number of important issues during Khan's October 27 visit to Beijing for the second round of China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, said Liu in response to a question by an India News reporter. BEIJING 00022983 003 OF 003 Recent Visit by Indonesian President Susilo -------------- ¶15. Premier Wen Jiabao and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met October 30-31 at the China-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Nanning, Guangxi and discussed the maturing bilateral relationship and mutual interest to expand economic cooperation, including trade and infrastructure projects. Liu made the statement in response to a query by Global Radio News asking if any energy agreements had been reached. September Talks between EU-China -------------- ¶16. Premier Wen Jiabao and the EU leadership reached a consensus during meetings in September to map out future cooperation between the two parties, said Liu, in response to a Bloomberg question asking for China's hopes regarding the renegotiated terms of the China-EU strategic dialogue. Congratulations Sent to Brazilian President -------------- ¶17. President Hu Jintao and Vice President Zeng Qinghong both sent congratulatory notes to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and his vice president on their re-election, said Liu in response to a query by a Brazilian reporter. They expressed their hope that the recent progress in China-Brazil relations would continue to progress for the future. Randt