AMBASSADOR RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS, STABILITY WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 004758 E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI CH SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS, STABILITY WITH LIAONING PARTY SECRETARY LI KEQIANG Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During a March 9 dinner hosted by the Ambassador, Liaoning Party Secretary and potential "Fifth Generation" leader Li Keqiang candidly discussed the economic development and stability challenges he faces. Liaoning has the largest number of urban poor in China, a substantial number of rural poor and more than its share of unrest and protest incidents. Revitalization of Liaoning's industrial base continues to be Li's top priority with state- owned enterprise reform the most important task. Liaoning hopes to land a major investment by Intel aimed at China's domestic market and to further develop its neglected coastal areas. Li expressed optimism about U.S.-China relations but said that Taiwan remains the biggest obstacle and warned that Chen Shui-bian is pushing Taiwan toward independence. In response to the Ambassador's query, Li acknowledged that the Chinese legal system lacks transparency but maintained that the Party does not formally approve or review court decisions. Li did not directly address the Ambassador's question about labor activists Xiao Yunliang and Yao Fuxin but agreed to allow Consulate personnel to observe some court proceedings in Liaoning. In response to the Ambassador's question about Li's January meeting with DPRK leader Kim Jong- Il at the border, Li said the encounter was brief and formal. End Summary. Liaoning's Development Challenges -------------- ¶2. (C) Liaoning Party Secretary and potential "Fifth Generation" leader Li Keqiang candidly discussed the development and stability challenges he faces with the Ambassador on March 10. Li was in Beijing to attend China's annual National People's Congress (NPC) session and said that Liaoning's priority at the session continues to be the revitalization of Liaoning's industrial base. The 11th Five Year Plan being discussed at the NPC includes several major projects for Liaoning, including petrochemical, steel and nuclear power plants. The most important issue is continued state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform, Li stated. Sixty percent of Liaoning's SOEs have already gone through the reform process and last year Liaoning eliminated foreign ownership ceilings in order to spur foreign investment. ; ¶3. (C) Foreign direct investment in Liaoning increased 172 percent in 2005, but this figureis calculate from a very low base, Li noted. Li said U.S. investment in Liaoning is signiicant and noted that Intel is considering building a wholly-owned chip plant in Dalian city for production aimed at the Chinese domestic market. If that deal is concluded successfully, the United States will lead foreign investment in Liaoning. In response to Li's concerns about potential restrictions on high-tech exports from the United States, the Ambassador noted that export license requests for China that are denied in terms of value equal less than one percent of our bilateral deficit. ¶4. (C) Li described plans to develop Liaoning's 2,200 kilometer long coastline, asserting that no other Chinese province can boast of comparable development potential for coastal areas. In tandem with the reform of SOEs, attracting new ventures to the coastal development zone will be a major task for the future. In response to the Ambassador's question about the importance of the leadership's New Socialist Countryside initiative, Li was fairly dismissive. Liaoning has China's highest number of urban poor with a 56 percent urbanization rate and has a significant number of rural poor. Building the New Socialist Countryside is a long-term task that goes along with the process of China's modernization. This will take 50 years, Li said, noting that China's preoccupation with its own development means that China will not pose a threat to other countries. U.S.-China Relations Solid, But Taiwan -------------- ¶5. (C) Li expressed optimism about U.S.-China relations, noting that areas of common interest far outweigh differences. The Ambassador noted that President Bush agrees with Li's statement and is pursuing constructive bilateral ties. ¶6. (C) Li noted that Taiwan remains the biggest obstacle to improved relations. The United States has reiterated its one-China policy, Li noted and said that the United States and China have common interests in preserving stability in the Taiwan Strait. Li warned that Chen Shui-bian is taking a dangerous path, wants to change the status quo and is pushing Taiwan toward independence. Li asserted that Chen has incorrectly assessed the current situation. With regard to Chen's recent decision to cease functions of the National Unification Council, Li asserted that the last "no" is now gone. Li maintained that China is prepared to discuss anything with Taiwan, provided the context is under the One-China Principle. Li said China has been sincere in its quest to maintain peace in the Strait, asserting that any non-peaceful approach would only be targeted at Taiwan's secessionist forces. WWII, History and Japan -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador stated that evidence from KGB archives has emerged proving that allegations of U.S. use of chemical weapons during the Korean War were products of a Soviet disinformation campaign. He asked Li when the Korean War history museum in Dandong would remove the display making this false allegation. Li said he was aware of the Ambassador's concerns but believes this issue should be left to historians and that bilateral relations should look forward. ¶8. (C) The Ambassador noted that this was not China's position with respect to Japan. In response, Li reviewed the Japanese record of atrocities in China over the past 100 years, noting that the cruelty of the Japanese record is very difficult for Chinese people to accept. This makes the situation with Japan unique, Li argued. In contrast, Li said, the Chinese people will never forget the assistance rendered by the United States during World War II. Without the U.S.-supported supply lines, China's rear defenses would have collapsed. Stability -------------- ¶9. (C) Citing the increasing number of protest incidents in China, the Ambassador asked about stability in Liaoning. Liaoning has more protest incidents than other provinces, Li replied, the vast majority of which involve money. People protest for heating subsidies, increased retirement benefits and other compensation issues. A small percentage of incidents are linked to problems with the justice system, Li acknowledged, but officials as well as common people have many complaints about the courts. Every year the approval votes at the NPC for the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate are the lowest, Li remarked. Transparency Lacking in Justice System -------------- ¶10. (C) In response to the Ambassador's comment about the lack of judicial independence in China's legal system, Li acknowledged that this is a problem. He maintained, however, that the Party does not formally approve or review court decisions and said that, if officials are found to have interfered in court decisions, they will be sanctioned. Ten years ago court decisions would have been openly discussed in Party meetings, Li stated, but now this is not the case. Trial committees at the provincial level have 10-20 judges, who must sign their names to decision votes. These decisions may not be altered. Li said he couldn't rule out that judges might be approached informally before the decision, but this is not permitted and can lead to reprimand or worse for the judge if discovered. ¶11. (C) Li said that outsiders had paid relatively little attention to the sweeping powers of judges in China to render verdicts and hand down sentences. Judges' powers are vast and must be effectively supervised, Li said. Any power without supervision gives rise to corruption, he observed. Human Rights Cases -------------- ¶12. (C) The Ambassador noted that Article 306 of the criminal code, which makes defense lawyers vulnerable to prosecution for misleading the court, has a chilling effect on the work of defense attorneys. Li claimed to be unfamiliar with the article, but said he had heard of cases in which lawyers who committed or assisted in perjury were prosecuted. Li did not directly address the Ambassador's question about labor activists Xiao Yunliang and Yao Fuxin but agreed that judicial transparency is a problem. In response to CG Kornbluth's request, Li said he would permit Consulate personnel to observe some court proceedings in Liaoning. Encounter with Kim Jong-Il -------------- ¶13. (C) Asked by the Ambassador about Li's January meeting with Kim Jong-il at the DPRK border, Li responded that he had only met Kim briefly at the railroad station in Dandong. Li said he only shook hands and exchanged ceremonial greetings with Kim for a few minutes before Kim's train moved on. RANDT