SOUTH KOREAN READOUT ON PRC-ROK-JAPAN TRILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001473

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/FO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON KS
SUBJECT: SOUTH KOREAN READOUT ON PRC-ROK-JAPAN TRILATERAL
ON LATIN AMERICA

REF: SEOUL 1298

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

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) On May 2, Lim Ki-mo, Director of MOFAT's Latin
American and Caribbean Regional Cooperation Division, briefed
poloff on the April 26 Director General-level trilateral
meeting in Beijing between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean
officials to discuss Latin America. The meeting's objective
was to explore areas for greater understanding in cultural,
economic, and military issues with the region. Lim mentioned
the Japanese suggestion that China should clarify whether it
wanted to seek donor or recipient status before entering the
Inter-American Development Bank. On a possible visit by
Venezuelan President Chavez to Asia, China would probably
approve a state visit, Japan would lean toward a working
visit, and Korea would have to decide based on a reading of
USG sensitivities and regional considerations. The next
trilateral may be next year, perhaps in Korea. END SUMMARY.
.
STARTING IS THE FIRST STEP
--------------


2. (C) Latin American and Caribbean Cooperation Division
Director Lim Ki-mo met with poloff on May 2 to provide a
readout of the April 26 trilateral on Latin America between
ROKG, PRC, and Japanese officials, as promised during the
visit of A/S Shannon to Seoul on April 12 (Ref A). Lim began
by expressing appreciation for Shannon's consultations in
Korea, saying he welcomed the opportunity to follow-up by
discussing the first ROK-PRC-Japan trilateral on Latin
America.


3. (C) Lim explained that the objective of the 90-minute
meeting between Han Byung-kil, Director-General at MOFAT's
Latin America and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, his Japanese
counterpart DG Sakaba, and his Chinese counterpart DG Zeng,
was to explore areas for greater understanding in cultural,
economic, and military issues with the region. Talks were at
the introductory level, with each side laying out some of its
objectives in relatively broad terms. They discussed the
value of encouraging closer cultural and economic exchanges
with Latin America, promoting joint trade fairs and forums,
and, in vague terms, spoke of the opportunity to consider
joint economic projects. As a smaller country, Lim opined
that Seoul saw its role in these consultations as helping to
mediate between Beijing and Tokyo. Seoul may offer to host
the next trilateral perhaps next year.
.
JAPAN
--------------


4. (C) The Japanese side, Lim noted, proposed that the three
capitals work to invigorate the Forum on East Asia, Latin
America, and the Caribbean (FEALAC). FEALAC reportedly has
undertaken no serious efforts to improve cooperation among
members, lacked sufficient financial funding, and lacked
significant political support from member countries.
Japanese officials also recommended that China decide whether
it sought donor or recipient status to the Inter-American
Development Bank and how much it would be willing to
contribute before being allowed to enter.
.
CHINA
--------------


5. (C) Lim observed that the Chinese delegation sought to
make the case that its efforts to increase economic ties to
Latin America were a win-win situation for everyone. Beijing
was promoting diversification of its export and import
markets and assured ROKG and Japanese officials that a "third
country was not the target." The PRC side stated that its
domestic producers supplied around 90 percent of its energy
needs, so this sector need not be an area for economic or
political confrontation with Washington in Latin America.
Responding to a Japanese suggestion for more transparency in
the military field, specifically in military sales to Latin
America, the Chinese side claimed that it only provided
defensive weapons to countries in the region. The PRC
officials also pointed to their White Paper as evidence of

Chinese military transparency.
.
POSSIBLE CHAVEZ VISIT TO ASIA
--------------


6. (C) Asked about a possible visit to Asia by the
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Lim reported that Chinese
officials during a bilateral with the ROKs had said China had
no plans to invite President Chavez. Should he ask to travel
to China, however, Beijing would probably allow the trip at
the state visit level. Separately, Japanese officials
responded that Tokyo probably would not oppose a Chavez trip
but was likely only to allow a working visit. Lim noted that
Seoul had not yet made a decision. South Korea was sensitive
to USG concerns, but it would also look to see how its
neighbors handled any possible visit.
VERSHBOW