PACOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FALLON MEETS WITH BEIJING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 008918

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SUBJECT: PACOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FALLON MEETS WITH BEIJING
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS


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Summary
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1. (SBU) At an upbeat discussion with Beijing
University students May 11, Pacific Command Commander
Admiral Fallon underlined that the U.S. military's
goal in the Asia-Pacific region is to create stable
conditions that will allow people to prosper and lead
productive lives. Iran and Japan were of prime
concern to the students, who asked several questions
about each. On Iran, students inquired about the
United Nations process and what the United States
intends to do if Tehran refuses to relinquish its
nuclear program. On Japan, a faculty participant
asked about the changing nature of U.S.-Japan military
relations. Admiral Fallon said Iran's actions
contradict international nonproliferation efforts.
The United States and other countries are striving to
persuade Iran that it is in its interest to
denuclearize. Meanwhile, the aim of U.S.-Japan ties
is to advance stability, the Admiral affirmed. Asked
what constitutes the biggest challenge to East Asia
security, Admiral Fallon pointed to historical issues,
noting that excessive focus on past tragedies hinders
regional progress. On U.S.-China relations, one
student asked about frictions within the U.S.
Government on China policy. Interestingly, no one
asked any questions about Taiwan. End Summary.

A Receptive Audience
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2. (SBU) Admiral Fallon visited the Beijing
University School of International Studies (SIS) May
11 for a roundtable discussion with about 30 Chinese
undergraduate and graduate students. The participants
were polite and receptive. SIS Associate Dean Jia
Qingguo moderated the event and Professor Han Hua
attended as well. The Admiral's opening remarks
stressed that the U.S. military's goal in the Asia-
Pacific area is to create stable conditions that will
allow the region's people to prosper and lead
productive lives. He discussed combating terrorism,
developing rapid responses to natural disasters and
handling geo-political challenges ranging from
Southeast Asia to the Indian Subcontinent.

Iran
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3. (SBU) The Iran nuclear issue topped the students'
agenda, with the first questioner, a graduate student
focusing on the Middle East, asking what the United
States plans to do if Iran refuses to abandon its
nuclear program. Another student followed up with a
question about the United States' approach to the
United Nations in the context of Iran. Admiral Fallon
emphasized that since the end of the Cold War, the
international community has been striving to cut the
number of nuclear weapons in the world, thereby
reducing the risk of a calamity. That a country such
as Iran, hardly a responsible actor on the global
stage, is contradicting this trend and seeking a
nuclear arsenal is not in the best interest of the
international community. Given the history of
violence in the Middle East, a nuclear Iran would be
dangerous. The United States will continue to work
hard with other countries in the UN framework and
beyond to persuade Iran to give up its programs,
Admiral Fallon stated.

The Perils of History
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4. (SBU) An undergraduate asked what Admiral Fallon
considers the biggest security challenge facing East
Asia. The Admiral pointed to historical issues,
asserting that excessive focus on past tragedies
hinders regional progress. "I'm aware that the
history of the 1930s and 1940s weighs, but it is a
different world today," he said. Mindful of the scars
of World War II, European countries have grown

BEIJING 00008918 002 OF 003


increasingly integrated and work together
multilaterally, Admiral Fallon observed. But in the
Asia-Pacific region, no such trend has emerged.
Countries still deal with each other one-on-one,
shying away from working as a group. The Admiral said
he and the U.S. Government are prepared to facilitate
more multilateral cooperation in the region. The
United States has already played a positive role.
After World War II, instead of taking a punitive
attitude toward Japan, the United States helped the
country change its political structure and culture.
The result has been phenomenal economic growth and
stability from which China has also benefited.

Japan
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5. (SBU) Japan figured prominently in a number of
questions. SIS Professor Han Hua thanked Admiral
Fallon for his optimistic remarks but contended that
many challenges remain in the region. Of particular
concern to Han is the changing nature of the military
relationship between the United States and Japan.
Will the Japanese constitution be amended to allow for
more aggressive deployments around the world? How
will the U.S.-Japanese global military alliance
develop? Meanwhile, another student inquired about
what the United States would do in the event a
conflict erupts between Japan and South Korea over the
disputed Liancourt Rocks.


6. (SBU) Admiral Fallon assured the group that U.S.
cooperation with Japan is meant to foster stability in
the region and beyond. He recalled that in a previous
meeting on this visit, a Chinese official charged that
Japan's military expenditures are greater than
China's. Such concerns are unfounded, the Admiral
said, explaining that a large percentage of Japan's
defense spending goes to the United States as part of
its security arrangement. In sum, U.S.-Japan
cooperation has worked well in helping create stable
conditions for development in East Asia. As for the
Liancourts, the Admiral said we would encourage the
two sides to proceed calmly and reach a fair solution.

U.S.-China Relations
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7. (SBU) Turning to U.S.-China bilateral ties, a
graduate student asked what differences exist among
the branches and departments of the U.S. Government
regarding China policy. For example, do the views of
military personnel and diplomats differ? Dealing with
foreign policy in the U.S. system is a balancing act,
Admiral Fallon remarked. There are 535 Members of
Congress, each of whom has a home constituency that
views China in its own way. As such, it is important
to take individual Members' expressions of contentious
views in context, the Admiral reasoned. In the end,
while a variety of voices chime in on U.S.-China ties,
there is a method to the formation of policy. The
process involves Congressional testimony (which the
Admiral delivers regularly, he said),the passage of
laws and other activities. Admiral Fallon said that
in his view, the U.S. Government in general is
interested in having positive relations with China.

Bases and Training
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8. (SBU) A finance major in her junior year asked
about the challenges the United States faces
maintaining bases in foreign countries, in particular
when local populations complain about the military
presence. She also asked about the scope and focus of
U.S. training operations with other countries.
Admiral Fallon specified that the United States has
bases in just two Asia-Pacific countries, Japan and
South Korea. He differentiated between the reasons
for our presence both countries. We have remained in
Japan to provide stability in the aftermath of World
War II to allow the country to develop. As for South
Korea, because an armistice as opposed to a formal
peace treaty ended hostilities in 1953, our forces
stay in South Korea to defend the country in case of

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invasion from the North. Nonetheless, the number of
troops has diminished considerably in both Japan and
South Korea in recent years. Overall, the U.S.
military has reduced its size by some 50 percent over
the past 15 years, the Admiral emphasized. As for
training, Admiral Fallon noted that in the near future
the U.S. would conduct training exercises with Asian
allies in Thailand. To promote transparency, the PRC
has been invited as an observer, Admiral Fallon said.

Openness and Transparency
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9. (SBU) Admiral Fallon used a question about what
qualities are most important in young people as a
springboard to urge the students to seek out multiple
sources of information as they learn about the world.
The amount of information available via the Internet,
books and other media is tremendous nowadays, the
Admiral said. But students should be skeptics and not
trust everything they see and hear. They should seek
the broadest array of opinions when making decisions.
In this context, the Admiral went on to make a
separate point about transparency. He presented
Europe as an example, where despite past differences,
the militaries are open with each other about even
obscure details such as spending programs. This has
allowed them to build confidence and tackle bigger
challenges. Similarly, the Admiral urged more
openness and transparency in the Chinese military.
This would build confidence with other countries.
"That way people could relax and move on to more
important issues," he concluded.
RANDT