U.S.-China Bilateral on Margins of Seventh North Pacific

UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 032144

SIPDIS

USCG FOR ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN AND VICE ADMIRAL CHARLES WURSTER
STATE FOR CHINA DESK NOAH ZARING

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHSA MARR CH
SUBJECT: U.S.-China Bilateral on Margins of Seventh North Pacific
Coast Guard Forum, Sanya, China, October 25: Coast Guard Vice
Admiral and PRC Maritime Safety Administration Deputy Director
General Li Qingping

(U) This document is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Vice Admiral Wurster, Commander of the Coast Guard's
Pacific Area, told Deputy Director General Li Qingping of the
Maritime Safety Administration (under the Ministry of
Communications),at an October 25 bilateral meeting on the margins
of the Seventh North Pacific Coast Guard Forum that the U.S. wanted
to partner with China on projects relating to safety, security and
environmental protection that had been tabled at the September 2006
International Maritime Organization meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The
U.S. and China, the Admiral said, had a vested interest in the
success of the IMO programs, especially as they applied to the
Straits of Malacca.


2. (SBU) In response to the Admiral's question, DDG Li said that
China supported three programs in particular, all of which required
some training and data exchange:

-- The replacement and maintenance of navigational aids that had
been damaged after the tsunami in December 2004;

-- Availability of real time data on tides, wind and currents in the
Singapore Strait; and

-- The handling of hazardous noxious substances in the seas.


3. (SBU) Admiral Wurster said that these were the same three areas
in which the U.S. was interested. Details, he suggested, could be
discussed at the December Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG),
and he expressed hope that the U.S and China could work together to
support the Littoral states of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
In response to DDG Li's statement that he was not aware of the TTEG,
Admiral Wurster designated Coast Guard Liaison in Beijing Captain
Bernard Moreland and Commander Raras, on his staff,, as the USG
points of contact for exchanging information on TTEG maters. DDG Li
designated Mr. Song and Mr. Li as the Chinese contacts. DDG Li
added that it was important for both sides to work on the safety of
maritime transport in the Straits of Malacca, but also noted that
this was an important responsibility of the Littoral states as well.
Admiral Wurster agreeQat those states had key responsibilities,
but emphasized the critical nature of the U.S. and China in
extending a "helping hand" to ensure success. He concluded that we
looked forward to working with China to find ways to extend that
"helping hand."


4. (U) Participants:

U.S.
Charles Wurster, Vice Admiral, Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area
Robert Goldberg, U.S. Consul General, Guangzhou
Bernard Moreland, Captain, Coast Guard Liaison, U.S. Embassy,
Beijing
Patrick Markowitz, Regional Advisor, Asia Pacific, U.S. Coast Guard
Manuel Raras, Commander, Policy Advisor to Admiral Wurster
Ronald Feng, U.S. Consulate, Guangzhou

China
Li Qingping, Deputy Director General, the Maritime Safety
Administration
Song Zhen, Director, Department of Maritime Traffic Management
Ning Bo, Department of Ship Supervision
Mr. Li, General Office of the Maritime Safety Administration


5. (U) This cable was cleared by Admiral Allen's staff.

GOLDBERG