(S) CHINA INFORMED OF POSSIBLE SANCTIONS ON

S E C R E T BEIJING 001626 NOFORN E.O. 12958 DECL: 03/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC IR CH SUBJECT: (S) CHINA INFORMED OF POSSIBLE SANCTIONS ON NORINCO AND CHINA SHIPBUILDING FOR CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS TRANSFERS TO IRAN REF: A. STATE 28998 ¶B. BEIJING 1478 Classified By: Deputy Political Minister Counselor Robert Griffiths. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (S) China appreciates United States' efforts to provide further information about conventional weapons transfers to Iran but China's strong opposition to sanctions on Chinese companies pursuant to American domestic legislation, such as the Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act (ISNA),remains unchanged, MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Deputy Director Wang Daxue told Poloff on March 12 in response to delivery of Ref A demarche. China opposes proliferation and has enacted strict export controls to prevent proliferation, he said, referring to ref B discussion the previous week. ¶2. (S) Poloff stressed to Wang the United States' and China's shared commitment to stop Iranian proliferation and support for terrorism, goals also underlying ISNA. He emphasized that information was provided to facilitate cooperation and enforcement of China's own export control laws. Poloff urged the MFA to promptly review the information and to work with law enforcement and licensing agencies to halt banned transfers by Chinese companies to Iran and to report to us the results of any Chinese investigations. RANDT NNNN End Cable Text