EAP DAS TOM CHRISTENSEN WITH MFA NORTH AMERICA DG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 004521

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PMUC PTER PHUM IZ IR KN TC
SUBJECT: EAP DAS TOM CHRISTENSEN WITH MFA NORTH AMERICA DG
LIU JIEYI

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) China will press Sudan to accept a peacekeeping force
in Darfur under UN command and control and welcomes bilateral
talks between the United States and North Korea, MFA North
America and Oceania Affairs Department Director General Liu
Jieyi told visiting EAP DAS Thomas Christensen on July 5.
DAS Christensen urged China to reconsider aspects of its
relations with Iran, which is not only refusing to meet its
obligations to the international community on nuclear
nonproliferation, but is promoting terrorism in the Middle
East and supporting U.S. enemies in Iraq. Liu expressed
interest in any information the United States could share on
Iranian behavior, including its Special Forces' activities
and transfer of weapons to Shiite militants in Iraq. Liu
said the United States is sending "wrong signals" about U.S.
policy toward Taiwan by allowing Taiwan Vice President
Annette Lu to transit the United States and by inviting the
Taiwan "foreign minister" to an Independence Day celebration
in Taipei. Responding to Liu's claims that U.S. offers of
weapons to Taiwan are destabilizing, DAS Christensen stressed
that U.S. arms sales are consistent with the three joint
communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, contribute to peace
and stability in the Taiwan Strait and are not designed to
support Taiwan independence or any single Taiwan leader. DAS
Christensen also noted that the PRC military build-up along
the Strait and PRC efforts to reduce Taiwan's international
space are leading to increased instability in the Strait.


2. Summary continued. Liu said China is "extremely
concerned" by the "sweeping regulations" adopted by the
United States in response to contaminated Chinese seafood
imports. Stressing that the United States has taken these
measure to keep our food supply safe, DAS Christensen said
the United States is eager to resume seafood imports from
China once China demonstrates it has reliable procedures in
place to ensure food safety. Liu objected to U.S. officials
meeting Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer and Hong Kong Cardinal
Joseph Zen and the planned October ceremony awarding a
congressional medal to the Dalai Lama. He also protested the
repeated opening of China's diplomatic pouch by U.S.
authorities. DAS Christensen protested China's mistreatment
of Kadeer's family and urged Beijing to engage in dialogue
with the Dalai Lama. He urged China to reconvene a human
rights dialogue with the U.S. Government and to issue
expeditiously a passport to human rights activist Yang
Jianli. End Summary.

Bilateral Relations
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3. (C) MFA North America and Oceania Affairs Department
Director General Liu Jieyi told visiting EAP DAS Thomas
Christensen July 5 that China and the United States must work
hard to expand cooperation and maintain a "stable, healthy
and vigorous" relationship through the fall Communist Party
Congress, summer 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2008
elections in the United States. He identified several
upcoming events that can help advance bilateral relations,
including President Bush and President Hu's meeting in
September on the margins of APEC in Sydney, National Party
Congress Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo's visit to
Washington, FM Yang Jiechi's visit to Washington on the
margins of the UN General Assembly and Chairman-designate of
the Joint Chiefs Admira Mullen's planned travel to China.
Secretary Rice is also welcome to visit, possibly close to

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the time of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Taiwan Affairs Office
Director Chen Yunlin's trip to the U.S. and upcoming visits
to Beijing by Treasury Secretary Paulson and HUD Secretary
Jackson will also be important. China also would welcome
visits by Defense Secretary Gates and National Security
Advisor Hadley.


4. (C) Bilateral trade and economic relations also provide
opportunities to maintain positive momentum in the
relationship, Liu continued. Implementation of the second
Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) results and preparations for
SED III, as well as for the 18th Joint Commission on Commerce
and Trace (JCCT),will require close cooperation. However,
it is important to avoid "politicization" of economic and
trade issues, including by Congress. Economic and trade
friction should be handled via consultations and cooperation.
DAS Christensen offered that the best way to avoid trade
friction and reduce domestic pressure on United States-China
trade within the United States is for the Chinese to adopt

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concrete measures to resolve outstanding problems.


5. (C) Liu said the Chinese side envisaged several steps to
follow up the recent Senior Dialogue led by Deputy Secretary
Negroponte and Vice FM Dai Bingguo. China is working on
specifics of VFM Dai's proposal for a mutual notification
arrangement between our militaries. China would welcome U.S.
thoughts on the Northeast Asia Security Mechanism, including
a trilateral dialogue between the United States, China and
Japan. Liu welcomed the U.S. proposal regarding the
strategic nuclear dialogue and appreciated the invitation for
PRC Second Artillery Force Commander General Jing Zhiyuan to
visit STRATCOM. The relevant Chinese departments are
considering U.S. proposals to resume human rights and
counterterrorism dialogues. DAS Christensen stressed that a
visit by General Jing would lead to increased dialogue and
greater PRC military transparency.

Iran
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6. (C) DAS Christensen said more international pressure is
needed to change Iran's behavior in the nuclear arena.
Iran's export of terrorism throughout the Middle East and its
support of enemies of the United States in Iraq also require
action. China's otherwise normal relations with Iran under
such circumstances are a problem for our bilateral relations.
DAS Christensen urged China to consider its own interests,
the fight against terrorism, and the importance of Middle
East stability in reconsidering it relations with Iran.
Under current circumstances, China's reported pursuit of
energy deals with Iran sends a terrible signal. Likewise,
Chinese conventional arms sales to Iran, even though not in
violation of any international regime, are a very bad idea.
Liu responded that China shares U.S. views on nuclear
proliferation and terrorism and opposes Iran's nuclear
weapons program. Describing China as a "stakeholder" on
Iran, he asked if the United States could share with China
evidence of Iranian support for terror, especially in Iraq.
Such information would provide China a better understanding
of the situation and allow Beijing to explore how it might
cooperate with the United States. China's conventional
weapons sales to Iran are based on three principles applied
to Chinese weapons sales around the world, he claimed: that
the weapons are for defensive purposes; that they not be
transferred to third parties without Chinese consent; and
that the weapons not contribute to regional instability.

Sudan
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7. (C) DAS Christensen urged China to support a strong
Chapter VII resolution creating an effective UN peacekeeping
effort under UN command and control and to increase pressure
on the Sudan government to accept such an effort. He noted
that U.S. Special Envoy Andrew Natsios would like to visit
Beijing to discuss Darfur with his PRC counterparts. Liu
said that China will "continue applying pressure" on Khartoum
to accept a UN/African Union hybrid peacekeeping force that
is under UN command and control. China will coordinate
closely with the United States on a UN Security Council
resolution authorizing the peacekeeping mission. Liu asked
the United States to persuade non-signatory rebel groups to
join the Darfur Peace Agreement. Welcoming Chinese pressure
on President Bashir, DAS Christensen stressed that UN command
and control is essential for an effective peacekeeping
mission. A strong Chapter Seven resolution is also required
to ensure Khartoum keeps its commitments. The objective is
not to weaken Bashir's regime or to cause the territorial
dismemberment of Sudan, but simply to address the
humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

North Korea
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8. (C) Bilateral discussions between the United States and
North Korea within the context of the Six-Party Talks are "a
good thing," DG Liu said, adding that such discussions add
"momentum" toward implementation of the September 15 Joint
Statement. He expressed hope that a Heads of Delegation
meeting and ministerial meeting can take place soon. DAS
Christensen welcomed recent news of North Korea's progress
toward implementing the February 13 agreement. He said the
United States and China must continue to push North Korea to
carry out its commitments, and focus on our shared objective:
the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Taiwan: "Sending Wrong Signals"
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9. (C) DG Liu said that China welcomes recent U.S. statements
opposing a Taiwan referendum on applying for UN membership
under the name "Taiwan." However, he said, China objects to
Taiwan "so-called" Vice President Annette Lu's transit
through the United States. Liu urged the United States not
to allow future transits by Taiwan officials. These visitors
use the United States as a "forum for secessionist
activities" and use such visits to suggest the United States
supports their views. Beijing also objects to the American
Institute in Taiwan inviting the Taiwan "foreign minister" to
an Independence Day celebration, at which AIT flew the U.S.
flag. Recent "anti-China and pro-Taiwan rhetoric" in the
U.S. Congress and media is sending the "wrong signals" about
U.S. policy, Liu claimed, and is emboldening Taiwan
independence forces and "making them even more unscrupulous."
Liu also complained about TECRO Washington representative
Joseph Wu's pro-independence activities in the United States.
Promising to relay Liu's concerns to Washington, DAS
Christensen stressed that the United States is committed to
our one China policy based on the three joint communiques and
the Taiwan Relations Act. Given our principles of free
speech and separation of powers, there will always be
numerous voices expressing diverse views about Taiwan in the
United States. The United States opposes attempts to "limit
Taiwan's international space" especially in organizations
that do not require statehood for membership. Such attempts
cause an anti-China "backlash," he stressed, particularly
among the Taiwan public.

Taiwan Arms Sales
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10. (C) This is "an unprecedented high-risk period" in
cross-Strait relations, DG Liu said. He protested the U.S.
offer of an "advanced weapons" packages to Taiwan and
meetings reportedly planned in Washington with high-level
Taiwan military officials, arguing that this emboldens Chen
Shui-bian's "unscrupulous" pro-independence activities. DAS
Christensen reminded Liu that the United States provides
defensive military items to Taiwan, consistent with the three
joint communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act. These sales
contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Emphasizing that the arms sales are not offered to Chen
Shui-bian or any specific politician or party but rather to
Taiwan for its legitimate long-term self defense needs, DAS
Christensen noted that the arms package recently reported in
the media has been on the table since 2001. The offer is not
linked to Taiwan internal political developments and, over
the past several years, has not sent a signal that the United
States supports Taiwan independence. During that time, the
U.S. Government has been very clear that the United States
does not support Taiwan independence and opposes unilateral
changes to the status quo by either side. The United States
views China's continued military buildup along the Taiwan
Strait as destabilizing and believes it probably contributes
to support in Taiwan for the UN referendum, he said. Recent
PRC efforts to restrict Taiwan's international space have
also backfired on China, causing increased support on Taiwan
for Chen Shui-bian's referendum initiative.

Restrictions on Chinese Seafood Imports
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11. (C) China is "extremely concerned" by the "sweeping
regulations" adopted by the United States in response to
contaminated Chinese seafood imports, DG Liu told DAS
Christensen. When China finds food imports from the United
States unsafe, the issue is handled on a case-by-case basis
in consultation with the United States. The United States
should adopt the same "cooperative attitude" and resolve this
matter through consultation. Liu hopes Washington can view
this issue objectively and avoid politicizing and
sensationalizing its reaction. DAS Christensen said that the
restrictions on Chinese seafood imports are not a punishment
or sanction, but simply a necessary measure to keep our food
supply safe. The United States is eager to resume seafood
imports from China when China demonstrates it has reliable
procedures in place to ensure food safety. This will require
not only dialogue between Chinese and U.S. agencies, but also
increased technical capacity by China to meet U.S. monitoring
and inspection standards.

Human Rights
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12. (C) Liu said that China objects to a recent meeting
between President Bush and Rebiya Kadeer in Prague and a more
recent meeting between Kadeer and the First Lady at the White

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House. Kadeer supports "East Turkestan independence" and has
links to "terrorist groups," he claimed. DAS Christensen
said that the United States recognizes Xinjiang Province as a
part of China and that Kadeer receives attention and sympathy
in the United States because she and her family are seen as
victims of politically motivated mistreatment by the Chinese
government. This is an issue of human rights and freedom of
speech, not U.S. support for any pro-independence agenda for
Xinjiang. The United States has no knowledge of any ties
between Kadeer and terrorist organizations. We would take
evidence of any such ties seriously.


13. (C) Liu complained about President Bush's recent meeting
with "anti-China troublemaker" Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen
and the planned October ceremony awarding a congressional
medal to "secessionist criminal" the Dalai Lama. DAS
Christensen said both events reflect the President, the
Congress and the American people's strong commitment to
religious freedom. He urged Beijing to engage in direct and
constructive dialogue with the Vatican and the Dalai Lama and
to reconvene the human rights dialogue with DRL Assistant
Secretary Barry Lowenkron and Ambassador-at-Large for

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Religious Freedom John Hanford soon, proposing July 27 and
July 30 as possible dates. He said the United States hopes
China will expedite Yang Jianli's passport application to
enable him to depart China and join his family in the United
States. DG Liu responded that U.S. meetings with Kadeer and
Cardinal Zen made resolving Yang's situation "more complex."

Diplomatic Pouch
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14. Liu complained that for the seventh time since 2004, U.S.
authorities opened China's diplomatic pouch. China
"seriously demands" that the United States take specific
measures to prevent recurrence of this infringement of
internationally recognized diplomatic privileges.


15. (U) DAS Christensen cleared this message.
RANDT