APRIL 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRANIAN NUCLEAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 007518

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM PTER KNNP CH IR
SUBJECT: APRIL 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRANIAN NUCLEAR
ISSUE, GUANTANAMO BAY, DETAINED JOURNALISTS, SIX-PARTY
TALKS, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, SCO, ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE, SPANISH
TRIAL, ORGAN TRANSPLANTS, SOLOMON ISLANDS, SAARC

BEIJING 00007518 001.2 OF 003


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


1. Key points made at the April 20 MFA press briefing
are as follows:

- China encourages the EU-3 and Iran to promptly
resume talks in Moscow in order to promote a peaceful
resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

- The United States should consider the interests of
the international community in dealing with the
Chinese citizens held in Guantanamo Bay, in addition
to supporting China's counterterrorism efforts.

- The MFA Spokesperson declined to answer questions on
the detention of both Singapore Straits Times reporter
Ching Cheong and New York Times researcher Zhao Yan.

- The Six-Party Talks participants have already
reached a consensus outlined in the Joint Statement,
which they should implement promptly.

- Overseas organizations should recognize that the
Chinese Government protects its citizens' freedom of
religion.

- Military cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) framework serves to maintain
regional peace and stability.

- China is not involved in economic espionage in
Canada and is concerned over such "groundless and
irresponsible accusations."

- The lawsuit filed by Tibetan organizations against
several Chinese leaders in a Spanish court is a
"complete farce."

- The British Transplantation Society's disregard for
the facts in its recent report on China's organ
transplant practices is "puzzling."

- The Chinese Government has launched an emergency
response mechanism to aid the PRC citizens and ethnic
Chinese who were victimized in the recent Solomon
Islands riots.

- The decision to grant China observer status in the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) will usher in a new chapter in China-South
Asia relations. End Summary.

Iranian Nuclear Issue
--------------


2. During his recent visit to Iran, Assistant Foreign
Minister Cui Tiankai conveyed to Iranian officials
China's concern over the situation regarding its
nuclear program and called for a display of restraint
and flexibility in order to negotiate a resolution to
the issue, MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang stated during the
regular April 20 MFA press briefing. AFM Cui and
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, while meeting in
Moscow, agreed to enhance communication regarding the
Iranian nuclear issue and promote a diplomatic
resolution. AFM Cui expressed support for Russia's
position. During the April 18 meeting of P-5 and
German officials, he expressed China's concern over
recent developments and the hope that the parties will
exercise restraint and flexibility to achieve a
diplomatic resolution. Qin stressed that there is
still room for a peaceful resolution to the Iranian
nuclear issue, calling on the international community
not to abandon diplomatic efforts. China encourages
the EU-3 and Iran to resume talks in Moscow promptly
in order to gradually expand mutual trust and promote
a peaceful settlement.

Chinese at Guantanamo Bay

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--------------


3. Asked by the AP correspondent about the recent
Supreme Court decision regarding the PRC nationals
being held at the U.S. military facility in Guantanamo
Bay, Qin asserted that the United States should
consider the interests of the international community
in dealing with the Chinese citizens detained in
Guantanamo Bay. East Turkestan forces are a component
of international terrorism. The international
community, including the United States, has been
harmed by terrorist organizations and should support
China's counterterrorism efforts, according to Qin.

Detained Journalists' Cases
--------------


4. Qin declined to answer questions on the detention
of both Singapore Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong
and New York Times researcher Zhao Yan. Pressed by
reporters, he maintained that China's judicial
authorities will handle these cases according to the
law.

Six-Party Talks
--------------


5. Questioned whether the territorial dispute between
Japan and South Korea has contributed to the delay in
the Six-Party Talks, Qin said that Beijing hopes the
two countries can resolve their dispute through
negotiation. The interests of all Six Parties will be
served by promoting the Six-Party Talks and the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The parties
have already reached a consensus outlined in the Joint
Statement, which they should implement swiftly, Qin
stressed.

Detention of Christian Leaders
--------------


6. Responding to the Bloomberg correspondent's
inquiry into the U.S.-based China Aid Association's
report that over 1,300 unofficial church leaders were
detained in 2005, Qin said that he had not seen the
report but argued that the Chinese Government protects
its citizens' freedom of belief in accordance with the
law. The President of the China Christian Council
recently briefed the press on the development of
Christianity in China. Overseas organizations should
take an objective view of religious freedom in China,
Qin remarked.

Upcoming SCO Meetings
--------------


7. Asked about the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) defense and foreign ministers'
meetings and whether they will discuss joint military
exercises, Qin noted that in addition to the June SCO
Summit in Shanghai, a defense ministers' meeting will
be in held in late April in Beijing and a foreign
ministers' meeting will occur at a later time, which
he did not specify. China hopes these exchanges will
enhance dialogue and coordination among member states,
helping maintain regional peace, stability and
security. Qin offered no information on specific
plans for SCO joint military exercises but stated that
military cooperation within the SCO framework helps
maintain regional peace and stability.

Chinese Espionage in Canada
--------------


8. Responding to the Xinhua correspondent's inquiry
into reported comments by a Canadian official that
China was conducting high-tech espionage activities in
Canada, Qin argued that China is not involved in
economic espionage in Canada and is concerned over
such "groundless and irresponsible accusations."

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Beijing hopes Ottawa can distinguish between true and
false accounts and make more efforts to support the
healthy development of bilateral ties, he said.

Spanish Court Hearing on Chinese Leaders
--------------


9. Asked by the Spanish News Agency correspondent
about a high-level Spanish court's decision to try a
case filed by a Tibetan organization against several
Chinese leaders, Qin asserted that the lawsuit is a
"complete farce." The Spanish court handling the case
should possess a common knowledge of judicial affairs,
he said. China-Spain relations are developing
smoothly, Qin remarked, while warning that
"unpleasant" matters should not be allowed to
undermine bilateral ties.

Criticism of Organ Transplant Practices
--------------


10. In response to the AFP correspondent's question
about the British Transplantation Society's reported
criticism over China's organ transplant practices, Qin
said that the recently issued Ministry of Health
regulations address these concerns. He remarked that
he was "puzzled" by the British report's disregard for
the facts. This organization should remember that
several years ago some doctors at British hospitals
removed patients' organs without properly informing
patients' relatives, Qin asserted.

Beijing Aids Chinese Victims of Solomon Islands Riots
-------------- --------------


11. In his opening remarks, Qin highlighted that the
Chinese Government is extremely concerned about the
welfare of PRC citizens and ethnic Chinese who were
targeted in recent riots in Honiara. Premier Wen
Jiabao instructed the MFA to monitor the situation
closely and ensure the safety of overseas Chinese in
the Solomon Islands, prompting the MFA to activate its
emergency response mechanism. While Beijing and
Honiara lack diplomatic ties, the Chinese Government
urged the Solomon Islands Government through various
channels to adopt measures to halt the looting of
businesses owned by PRC nationals and overseas
Chinese. Beijing requested that Australia, New
Zealand and Papua New Guinea provide assistance to
Chinese citizens victimized during the riots. The PRC
Embassy in Papua New Guinea has dispatched diplomatic
staff to the Solomon Islands to make contact with the
local Chinese community and urge Solomon Islands
officials to ensure the safety of resident Chinese.
The PRC diplomats have also helped local Chinese seek
police protection. In addition, China has appealed
for assistance from the International Committee of the
Red Cross.

China to Attend SAARC Summit as Observer
--------------


12. Noting that China was recently accepted as an
observer at the 2007 South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit, Qin said that
Beijing hopes the relevant procedures will be
completed quickly. China becoming a SAARC observer
will usher in a new chapter in China-South Asia
relations. Beijing is willing to work with South
Asian nations to promote regional peace and stability
and explore cooperation in many fields.
SEDNEY