PRC RESPONSE TO U.S. POINTS ON U.S.-JAPAN 2-PLUS-2

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 008787

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/J AND EAP/CM
DOD FOR OSD/ISA SUZANNE BASALLA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2021
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS ENRG PINR JA CH
SUBJECT: PRC RESPONSE TO U.S. POINTS ON U.S.-JAPAN 2-PLUS-2

REF: STATE 69287

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel
Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) China appreciates the fact that the USG
provided information in a transparent manner regarding
the U.S.-Japan 2-plus-2 meeting held in Washington on
May 1, MFA Asian Affairs Deputy Director General Qiu
Guohong said in response to Polmincouns? delivery May
10 of reftel talking points on the 2-Plus-2 meeting,
plus copies of the Joint Statement and the
Implementation Report as posted on the State
Department website. China has three main concerns,
however, relating to the implementation plans approved
at the 2-plus-2 meeting. First, China is concerned
that Japan will take advantage of the process to build
up its overall military capabilities. Second, Beijing
worries that Japan will use its cooperation with the
USG on missile defense to develop offensive Japanese
missile capabilities. Third, China fears that
although the 2-plus-2 statement does not specifically
mention China, China may in reality be a target of the
plans approved at the 2-plus-2 meeting. Polmincouns
used reftel points to respond, stressing that U.S.-
Japan alliance transformation is not aimed at specific
threats in East Asia and not aimed at China. The
U.S.-Japan alliance is focused on the defense of Japan
and maintaining peace and security in the Asia Pacific
Region, he noted. Polmincouns urged China to improve
its record with regard to transparency. End Summary.

PRC Appreciates USG Transparency
--------------


2. (C) Polmincouns used the talking points provided
reftel to brief MFA Asian Affairs Deputy Director
General Qiu Guohong May 10 on the May 1 U.S.-Japan
Security Consultative Committee Meeting (2-plus-2.)
Polmincouns passed Qiu copies of the Joint Statement
and the Implementation Report as posted on the State
Department website. Qiu said China appreciates the
fact that the USG is providing information in a
transparent manner regarding the 2-plus-2 meeting. He
said China always watches closely changes and
developments in the U.S.-Japan alliance. China has
three main concerns, however, relating to the
implementation plans approved at the 2-plus-2 meeting,
Qiu said.

PRC Concern One: Increasing Japanese Military
Capabilities
--------------


3. (C) Qiu said the first major area of Chinese
concern is that Japan may take advantage of U.S.-Japan
alliance transformation implementation plans approved
at the 2-plus-2 meeting to expand the Japan Self
Defense Forces' capabilities and roles in the region.
Stating that the United States had placed a check on
Japan's military following World War II, Qiu expressed
the hope that the United States would continue to
prevent the reemergence of a militaristic Japan. The
focus of the alliance would appear to be shifting from
the U.S. protecting Japan to the United States and
Japan jointly securing the Asia-Pacific region. Qiu
asked if the JSDF would participate if the United
States were involved in a military operation in the
Asia-Pacific region. These are concerns shared by
Japan's other neighbors, Qiu added.

Defense of Japan "Does Not Hold Water"
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4. (C) Qiu said the stated purpose of the JSDF has
long been the defense of Japan, but Japan?s
interpretation of ?defense? has changed over time.
First, the JSDF was committed to protecting Japan's
territory. Then, it was the adjacent seas and the
lifelines of Japan out to 1000 miles. Now, the JSDF
is ready to engage in a preventive strike if there is
an imminent attack on a base dedicated to the defense
of Japan. Therefore, the idea that the JSDF is
focused solely on the defense of Japan "does not hold
water." Qiu said that China is not worried about
Japan's current military capabilities or orientation,
but is troubled by the trend.

PRC Concern Two: Japan Building Up Missile
Capabilities
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5. (C) Qiu turned his attention to missile defense
systems, asking if the installations in northern Japan
would be moved to the south or if there would be new
installations in southern Japan. He inquired about
the target of the missile defense systems and whether
the systems mentioned in the roadmap would be
controlled by both the United States and Japan or just
by the United States. The reason for the concern, Qiu
continued, is that offensive and defensive missile
systems are not that different. Japan could use
missile defense technology to develop Japanese
offensive missile capabilities, he said.

PRC Concern Three: Realignment May Target China
-------------- --


6. (C) Qiu said his final concern was that while the
United States and Japan say alliance transformation is
not targeted at China, previous 2-plus-2 joint
statements, albeit not this one, have specifically
mentioned China. The phrases "persistent challenges,"
"unpredictability and uncertainty" and "call for
greater transparency" may be interpreted as referring
to China, Qiu said. U.S.-Japan military cooperation
has gone beyond the bilateral alliance and is focusing
on third countries, which causes China real concern.
The U.S.-Japan alliance and military relationship have
an impact on Japan's neighbors. Washington and Tokyo
should be more transparent about their military
intentions and changes to capabilities as a result of
the realignment, he said.

Polmincouns: Alliance Transformation Not Aimed at
China
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7. (C) Polmincouns used reftel points to respond,
stressing that U.S.-Japan alliance transformation is
not aimed at specific threats in East Asia and not
aimed at China. The U.S.-Japan alliance is focused on
the defense of Japan and maintaining peace and
security in the Asia Pacific Region. Polmincouns said
he would advise Qiu if Washington had any specific
responses to the technical questions Qiu posed (para
5) regarding missile defense issues. More broadly,
Polmincouns noted that the United States and Japan
share global interests. We expressed those interests
in a transparent manner in our just announced
implementation report, our common strategic objectives
announced in February 2005 and in our report on
Alliance Transformation and Realignment issued October

2005. The implementation report gives a transparent
explanation of how we will pursue these interests. We
hope that China and other neighboring states will
welcome this transparent approach in describing our
interests and the steps we plan to take to ensure our
security. Polmincouns urged China to improve its
record with regard to transparency.
RANDT