U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH NPC FOREIGN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000697

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH NPC FOREIGN
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JIANG ENZHU


Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) In a meeting with a visiting delegation from
the U.S.-China Working Group led by Congressmen Mark
Kirk, Rick Larsen and Thomas Feeney, Chairman of the
NPC Foreign Affairs Committee Jiang Enzhu praised
progress in U.S.-China relations in the past year.
While noting the extensive recent progress, he
cautioned that Taiwan is still a very sensitive issue
and urged the U.S. Congress not to pass legislation
that might encourage Taiwan independence. NPC Foreign
Affairs Committee member Li Yuanzheng affirmed China's
cooperation on non-proliferation issues. Jiang said
China is moving down the path of peaceful development
with an emphasis on economic trade and should not be
considered a threat to the United States.
End Summary.

Positive U.S.-China Relations
--------------


2. (SBU) After extending a warm welcome to
Congressmen Kirk, Larsen and Feeney, Jiang noted the
positive and stable development in U.S.-China
relations in the past year. There was effective
bilateral cooperation in many areas, including
political, economic and science and technology issues.
He also highlighted the positive coordination on
counterterrorism, the DPRK nuclear issue, Iraq, and UN
reform and assessed President Bush's November visit to
Beijing as very successful, setting the tone for
constructive and cooperative bilateral relations in
the 21st century. Likewise, China expects Hu Jintao's
visit to the United States in the first half of 2006
to be successful.

Taiwan
--------------


3. (SBU) Jiang said that both sides would discuss
areas where the two sides had differences. He then
launched into familiar talking points about Taiwan.
Taiwan relates to the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of China. The Chinese Government maintains
its position of resolving differences peacefully on
the basis of "one country, two systems." China will
never allow Taiwan independence. The Mainland has
taken steps over the past year to blunt moves toward
secession in Taiwan and to enhance cross-Strait
relations. There has been a recent relaxation in the
relationship. The recent elections in Taiwan
indicated a positive change in the views of Taiwan
voters.


4. (SBU) Despite the recent positive momentum in
relations, Beijing is still concerned about the
direction of cross-Strait relations, Jiang said. Chen
Shui-bian continues to reject one China. During
Chen's New Year's address, he again discussed a
timetable for achieving de jure independence. He
indicated that by 2007, a referendum would help to
realize a re-engineered constitution that could be
implemented by 2008. This new constitution would
declare that Taiwan is not a part of China and is a de
jure country. Jiang praised the U.S. Government for
taking measures to restrain Taiwan moves toward
independence. He urged the U.S. Congress not to pass
any legislation that might encourage Taiwan
independence.

Non-proliferation
--------------


5. (SBU) Congressman Kirk noted that Beijing's focus
on the Taiwan issue during official meetings got in
the way of possible opportunities to discuss other
important matters. He cited the 2008 Olympics as an
example of an issue that could bring a new face to
China. Congressman Larsen noted his interest in non-
proliferation and encouraged China's cooperation in
the Proliferation Security Initiative. NPC Foreign
Affairs Committee member General Li Yuanzheng stressed
that the Chinese is serious about its opposition to
nuclear non-proliferation and its policy is not to
help other countries acquire such technology. China
has extensive cooperation with other countries in the
area of export control. China supports the
Proliferation Security Initiative in principle, but
there are difficulties in its practical application.
Taking action can be very difficult unless the

BEIJING 00000697 002 OF 002


information that China receives is ironclad.

China Still Developing
--------------


6. (SBU) Asked about the future of China as a global
power, Jiang tried to disabuse any notions that China
is looking to expand its influence overseas. He noted
problems in China's income gap, regional economic
imbalances, workers without insurance and people with
disabilities, suggesting that China will remain a
developing country for years to come. As a result of
China's rapid growth, there is now social friction.
China still has far to go to develop into a medium
developed country, he asserted. China needed "many
tens of generations" to catch up to western
industrialized countries. Thus, China's future
direction is focused on improving the economy.


7. (SBU) Jiang paraphrased a Confucius saying that
means roughly "do unto others as they would do unto
you." China has no history of aggression but has been
a victim of outside attacks. In China's powerful Ming
Dynasty, the explorer Zheng He went overseas to more
than 30 lands, but he did not seize an inch of soil
from other countries, Jiang said. Citing examples of
China's pursuit of friendly relations, he said Beijing
has resolved boundary issues with 15 countries and is
engaging in joint exploration for energy resources in
the Pacific. China does not have the ability to
challenge U.S. global dominance and certainly does not
want to enter into an arms race with the United
States. Beijing appreciates that the United States
plays a constructive role in the Asia Pacific region.

China is Responsible
--------------


8. (SBU) Asked by Congressman Kirk about the
possibility of future cultural exchanges, such as an
NFL game between the Chicago Bears and Seattle
Seahawks that might be played in China, Jiang said the
NPC favored broad exchanges including those in sports.
Replying to Congressman Larsen's question about
China's response to Deputy Secretary Zoellick's
September 21 speech that referred to China's future as
a "responsible stakeholder," Vice Chairman of the NPC
Foreign Affairs Committee Lu Congmin expressed the
view that China is already that. He identified
several areas, including counterterrorism, non-
proliferation and trade issues where China is playing
a responsible role. In trade, globalization brings
both benefits and challenges to China. Some domestic
industries have been dealt a blow because of China's
membership in the WTO. Moreover, China does not offer
its farmers subsidies, like the United States and EU
countries do. Nonetheless, China is adhering to its
commitments and in the area of services has gone
beyond some western countries in opening up various
sectors.


9. (U) Participants:

U.S. Delegation
--------------
Representative Mark Kirk
Representative Rick Larsen
Representative Tom Feeney
Steve Orlins, President, National Committee on U.S.-
China Relations
Richard Goldberg, Co-Staff Director, U.S.-China
Working Group
Dr. Yang Hong, Bryant University
Embassy Control Officer
Embassy Notetaker

Chinese Delegation
--------------
NPC Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Jiang Enzhu
NPC Foreign Affairs Comm. Vice Chairman Lu Congmin
NPC Foreign Affairs Comm. Member Li Yuanzheng
DCM Chinese Embassy in Washington Su Ge
Staff and Interpreter


10. (U) The Delegation has cleared this cable.
Randt