NOVEMBER 14 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINESE SUBMARINE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 023776 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL TBIO KN CH EC JA IN PK SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 14 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINESE SUBMARINE FOLLOWS USS KITTY HAWK; U.S. DEPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN SOUTH KOREA; CHINESE REPORT ON UNSC 1718 IMPLEMENTATION; BILATERAL MEETINGS AT APEC; CHINA REJECTS SPY ACCUSATIONS; ACTIVITIES IN EAST CHINA SEA ¶1. Key Points made at the November 9, 2006 Press Briefing were: -- MFA Spokesperson Jiang Yu claims ignorance of reports that a Chinese submarine followed the USS Kitty Hawk. He said China is an &adamant force8 in the region and the world for peace and stability. -- Jiang deflected question on reports of U.S. deployment of strategic nuclear weapons in South Korea, saying that China is committed to peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. -- China will soon release a report on its implementation of UNSCR 1718. -- Bilateral meetings between foreign ministers of China and eight nations will take place on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Hanoi. -- China rejects accusations related to an American citizen selling military secrets to China. -- China dismisses Japanese concerns over Chinese activity in the East China Sea. -- Leaders from Bulgaria, Mongolia and Columbia will visit China next week. Chinese Submarine Following USS Kitty Hawk -------------- ¶2. Questioned on reports of a Chinese submarine stalking the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier battle group last month, Jiang said she had not heard of these reports. She reiterated that China's defense policy is defensive in nature. China has no plans to shaply increase defense expenditures and is an "damant force8 in the Asia-Pacific region and he world for peace and stability. Report of .S. Nuclear Weapons in South Korea -------------- ¶3. When asked to comment on Chinese media reports that North Korea has issued an official statement that the United States has deployed strategic nuclear weapons in South Korea, Jiang replied that China is committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to using peaceful means of dialogue and discussion to solve the North Korea problem. Report on UNSCR 1718 Implementation -------------- ¶4. A report on China,s implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 will be submitted "in the days to come,8 Jiang said. She stated that as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, China has always taken the implementation of UNSC resolutions seriously and will continue to honor its international commitments. APEC Bilateral Meetings and North Korea -------------- ¶5. Spokesperson Jiang announced that FM Li Zhaoxing will hold bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada on November 16 and with the foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, the ROK and Peru on November 17 on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Hanoi. Asked about China,s reluctance to bring up the North Korea issue at APEC, Jiang said she has no information about potential meetings regarding North Korea and reemphasized that APEC is an economic forum. China cannot accept spying accusations -------------- ¶6. China cannot accept accusations that an Indin-born American citizen was selling military ecrets to the Chinese government, Jiang said when asked for comment by a reporter from an Indian news agency. China will follow the UN Charter and norms regarding international conduct, Jiang added. Japan,s concern over East China Sea unnecessary -------------- -- ¶7. Japan and China have no conflict over the waters near China,s coast in which SINOC is currently conducting normal development and exploration activities, Jiang stated when asked about comments made by Shoichi Nakagawa of Japan,s BEIJING 00023776 002 OF 002 SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 14 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINESE SUBMARINE FOLLOWS USS KITTY HAWK; U.S. DEPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN SOUTH KOREA; CHINESE REPORT ON UNSC 1718 IMPLEMENTATION; BILATERAL MEETINGS AT APEC; CHINA REJECTS SPY ACCUSATIONS; ACTIVITIES IN EAST CHINA SEA Liberal Democratic Party that China needs to act with more self-discipline. Jiang said Japan,s concern over such activities is unnecessary. India Trade and Border Dispute -------------- ¶8. In response to a question about a free trade agreement between China and India, Jiang clarified that China and India are working toward a ®ional trading arrangement,8 not a &free trade agreement,8 which was a goal agreed upon by both parties during Premier Wen Jiabao,s visit to India in ¶2005. Jiang said she had heard no reports that India had rejected a Chinese claim to disputed territory when brought up by a reporter. Asked about progress in resolving the China-India border dispute, Jiang said that both sides are working to resolve the issue. Special envoys will have their next meeting in India, but the date has not yet been set. China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement -------------- ¶9. Spokeswoman Jiang said that a China-Pakistan free trade agreement is &basically completed8 and will be concluded during President Hu,s visit to Pakistan. Details of the agreement will not be finalized until the signing. China ranks among world,s worst in climate change -------------- -------------- ¶10. Asked to comment on China,s ranking among the world,s worst in combating emissions of greenhouse gases by the Climate Action Network-Europe, Jiang said China has implemented many measures in respect to energy efficiency, reforestation, renewable energy and reduction of greenhouse gases. In the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, China set forth goals of reducing energy consumption in terms of GDP by 20 percent, pollution emissions by 10 percent and greenhouse gases by 20 percent. China hopes that major developed countries can join the Kyoto protocol as soon as possible so as to bring tangible benefits prescribed by the protocol, she said. Riots at Chinese company in Ecuador -------------- ¶11. Jiang clarified reports of a November 10 riot at a Chinese facility in Ecuador. Protestors took 30 local workers hostage at the facility which is jointly owned by Sinopec and PetroChina. The local Chinese embassy involved the Ecuador government which resolved the problem the same day. Leaders from Bulgaria, Mongolia and Colombia to visit China -------------- -------------- ¶12. At the invitation of Premier Wen, Bulgarian Prime Minister Stanishev will visit Beijing November 19-23 and Mongolian Prime Minister Enkhbold will visit Beijing November 22-27. At the invitation of Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Colombian Vice President Santos will visit Beijing November 19-26. Randt