PRC DEFENSE MINISTER'S HIGH-PROFILE VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001293

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PREL PARM KS CH
SUBJECT: PRC DEFENSE MINISTER'S HIGH-PROFILE VISIT

Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: During a high-profile visit to Korea, PRC
Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan discussed bilateral defense
ties, cooperation on North Korea, and economic development
with President Roh and Defense Minister Yoon. Cao advocated
enhancing military exchanges and asked for invitations for
the Chinese military to observe military exercises on the
Peninsula. The ROK MinDef proposed a hotline between the two
defense ministries, joint search and rescue exercises, and
regularizing Defense Ministerials. On North Korea, ROK
officials urged Beijing to persuade Pyongyang to return to
the Six Party Talks and to convey the ROK's concerns about
the North Korean military's unhelpful attitude and behavior.
While noting Pyongyang's inflexible approach, Cao suggested
that the current impasse was caused by mistrust between the
U.S. and North Korea and that the two countries needed to get
together to develop trust. Expressing admiration for the
ROK's economic growth, the PRC Defense Chief emphasized
China's focus on economic development and the need to reduce
economic polarization. Cao also reaffirmed Beijing's stance
on Taiwan and expressed concerns about Japan's military
expansion. The ROKG views the visit as very positive in all
aspects, and expects enhanced military exchanges as a result
of the discussions. End Summary.


2. (C) PRC Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan led a 19-member
delegation (delegation list in para 13) to Korea April 15-19,
the first visit by a Chinese defense chief in six years. The
five-day visit started with a tour of Jeju Island and
featured a 55-minute meeting with President Roh Moo-hyun, two
sessions with Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung, and a
breakfast meeting with senior National Assemblymen. Cao also
visited the ROK Second Fleet in Pyongtaek and a Samsung
factory, and was honored in a dinner hosted by the Federation
of Korean Industries. Immediately following Cao's departure
April 19 morning, MND Director General for International
Defense Policy Kim Kyu-hyun gave PolMil Chief and DATT the
following readout. DG Kim noted several times during the
briefing that Minister Yoon personally had instructed him to
give a full readout as soon as possible to ensure complete
transparency between the ROK and the U.S.

CULTIVATING ROK-PRC MILITARY RELATIONSHIP
--------------


3. (C) In his meetings with both President Roh and MinDef
Yoon, Cao stressed China's focus on trade and economic
growth. Cao explained that the PRC's military budget for
2006 totaled USD 35 billion, to support a force of 2.3
million soldiers, excluding a separate budget for its space
program. While some neighbors continued to have concerns
about the Chinese military, Cao assured the ROK officials
that China's priority was in developing its economy and that
the PLA did not pose a threat to others in the region. DG
Kim apparently told several members of Cao's delegation that
China's neighbors would be reassured if China became more
transparent and democratic.


4. (C) In the interest of enhancing military cooperation and
relations between China and the ROK, Cao proposed increasing
exchanges between the two militaries, especially among young
officers, to learn about each other's militaries and to share
views on issues of mutual interest. Cao also asked the ROK
to extend an invitation for China to be an observer at ROK
military exercises as part of confidence-building effort and
for transparency, noting that China had been invited to
observe Cobra Gold, a joint exercise held by Thailand and the
U.S. The PRC Defense Minister did not specify which
exercises China wanted to observe. (DG Kim told us that the
ROK was not ready to invite the Chinese to ROK exercises or
combined U.S.-ROK exercises, and that it would only consider
changing this position in consultation with the U.S. In
2004, when a Chinese delegation visited the ROK, they were
given briefings and a tour of the Korea Military Academy but
were not allowed to actually observe any exercises.)


5. (C) Minister Yoon proposed three initiatives to enhance
military-military ties: setting up a hotline between the two
countries' naval and air forces to deal with contingencies in
the West Sea; joint search and rescue exercises;
regularization of Defense Ministerials between the two
countries. In response, Cao said that the PRC does not have
a hotline arrangement with any country and asked for more
information. On joint search and rescue missions, Cao agreed
in principle to pursue such activities as part of
confidence-building measures. Without commenting directly on
the proposal to regularize Defense Ministerials, Cao invited
Yoon to visit China in 2007, which DG Kim interpreted as a
tacit acceptance of Yoon's proposal.


6. (C) Reiterating a previous request, Yoon urged China to
stop unlawful fishing activities in ROK territorial waters.
Cao noted that he had earlier conveyed the ROK's concerns to
appropriate ministries and would do so again, but that the
matter was difficult to control.

COOPERATION ON NORTH KOREA
--------------


7. (C) During Cao's call on President Roh, the President
noted that he and President Bush had agreed at their Gyeongju
Summit to pursue a multilateral security framework to
guarantee peace and stability in Northeast Asia. Roh also
mentioned that the September 19 Six Party Joint Statement had
included a reference to a regional security framework. Roh
emphasized to Cao the important role China plays in the
region and pressed the Chinese to persuade the DPRK to return
to the Six Party Talks as soon as possible. During their
main meeting and later in a separate breakfast discussion,
MinDef Yoon also conveyed the ROK's concerns about the
present stalemate and expressed hope for progress in the Six
Party process. Yoon emphasized the importance of Beijing's
role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and
criticized the North Korean military's unconstructive
attitude and behavior. Noting that the DPRK military's
propaganda made management of relations more difficult, Yoon
urged Beijing to convey the ROK's concerns to the North
Korean leadership.


8. (C) Cao said Beijing appreciated the ROK's active role in
trying to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
(DG Kim noted with interest that Cao referred to the problem
as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, not the DPRK
nuclear issue.) Cao suggested that the current deadlock was
caused by mistrust between the U.S. and the DPRK, and
expressed hope that both sides would make more of an effort
to develop trust. He reiterated that China wants stability
and peace, which is essential for China's economic
development. In response to a question from Yoon, Cao said
Kim Jong-il had not been accompanied by any senior military
officials on his recent visit to China.


9. (C) On his April 4-6 visit to Pyongyang, Cao indicated
that the DPRK military leadership was upset about the
combined RSOI/Foal Eagle exercises and the BDA case. He
noted that his North Korean interlocutors were very rigid and
showed no flexibility on these topics. Cao met with Kim
Yong-nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's
Assembly, Jo Myong-rok, Chief of the General Staff of the
People's Army, and Kim Il-chol, Minister of the People's
Armed Forces, but he did not get a meeting with Kim Jong-il.
(DG Kim noted that it was highly unusual that a PRC Defense
Chief did not get a meeting with Kim Jong-il.)

IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
--------------


10. (C) In his discussion with President Roh, Cao expressed
admiration for the development of Jeju Island, particularly
equitable development between urban and rural areas. China
has an enormous task to bridge the gap between cities and
rural areas, as well as the coastal and inner sections of
China. Roh noted that the ROK also has economic polarization
problems and expressed hope that China would learn a few
lessons from the Korean experience. Cao described how far
both countries had come since normalizing relations in 1992,
with the two-way trade volume reaching USD 110 billion last
year, three years earlier than had been projected.

JAPAN, TAIWAN, AND KOGURYO HISTORY
--------------


11. (C) In all of his meetings, the PRC Defense Minister
emphasized the importance of the Taiwan issue to Beijing and
thanked the ROK for its one China policy. Cao stated that
China was fully committed to working to maintain peace.
However, if Taiwan moved toward independence, China would do
everything possible to counter any such move. Cao expressed
serious concerns about Japan's military expansion and
continued distortion of historical facts, as well as the
repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by PM Koizumi.
Neither side raised the latest ROK-Japan controversy over the
disputed Liancourt Rocks. Roh asked for Beijing's assistance
in taking appropriate measures to ensure that the Koguryo
history is not distorted.

ATMOSPHERICS
--------------


12. (C) DG Kim said cordial and frank atmosphere prevailed
throughout the visit. The ROKG was generally pleased with
the meetings and expected positive results in terms of
enhancing exchanges between the two militaries. At the same
time, the ROKG continued to believe that ROK-PRC defense
relations remain in a CBM stage in which the two militaries
pursue initiatives such as joint search and rescue operations
to boost confidence and trust in each other.

DELEGATION
--------------


13. (U) Cao was accompanied by:

Mrs. Li Pingzuan, Spouse
LTG. Jang Wanzuen, Shenyang Military Commander
MG. Zang Cinsung, Chef to the Chief of Staff
MG. Zang Yongyi, Deputy Commander, Navy
LTG. Rhyu Yazou, Deputy Member, Political Committee, Air Force
MG. Cao Wimin, DDG Administration, Defense Committee
MG. Jia Shaoning, DDG Foreign Affairs, Defense Ministry
Col. Mei Mingyou, DDG Security, Military Guard
Col. Wu Shaoyi, DDG Asian Affairs, Foreign Affairs Bureau,
Defense Ministry
LTC. Zu Wonhao, Secretary to the Defense Minister
LTC. Kao Hongryn, Researcher, Administrative Bureau, Defense
Committee
Dr. Dung Shaojung, Doctor
Maj. Kuo Hongtao, Foreign Affairs Officer, Defense Ministry
(note taker)
Maj. Zao Dung, Foreign Affairs Officer, Defense Ministry
(note taker)
Maj. Zao Jamei, Foreign Affairs Officer, Defense Ministry
(protocol)
Cpt. Kao Shungli, Foreign Affairs Officer, Defense Ministry
(interpreter)
Cpt. Wang Sienching, Security Officer
Mr. Wang Chunsui, Cameraman, CCTV
VERSHBOW