Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING23776
2006-11-14 11:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

NOVEMBER 14 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINESE SUBMARINE

Tags:  PREL TBIO KN CH EC JA IN PK 
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OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3776/01 3181145
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141145Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2095
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
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

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