MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL LIU JIEYI PROTESTS POTENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 004718

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2022
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR TW CH
SUBJECT: MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL LIU JIEYI PROTESTS POTENTIAL
U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta. Reasons
1.4 (b/d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) China is "gravely concerned" about U.S. planned arms
sales to Taiwan during this "very sensitive and dangerous
time," MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs Department
Director General Liu Jieyi told the DCM July 17. Liu
warned that such sales "could seriously harm overall U.S.-
China bilateral relations." The DCM reiterated U.S. one
China policy, recounted our publicly stated opposition to
Taiwan's UN referendum, and repeated the standard reasons
for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. DCM also stressed the
importance of not allowing the Taiwan issue to interfere
with bilateral cooperation. Moments after this meeting,
the MFA summoned Boeing's China Representative and told him
that Boeing should not sell Apache helicopters to Taiwan.
End summary.

China Warns against Arms Sales to Taiwan
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2. (C) Taiwan Representative in the United States Joseph
Wu's recent interview announcing that the United States and
Taiwan have reached agreement on the sale of arms to Taiwan
is of grave concern to China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) North American and Oceanian Affairs Department
Director General Liu Jieyi told the DCM on July 17.
According to DG Liu, Joseph Wu said the United States
agreed to sell 30 Apache helicopters to Taiwan and is
discussing the additional sale of 66 F-16C and D fighter
aircraft and several PC-3 anti-submarine aircraft. DG Liu
said Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and China will
not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the Mainland nor
will it allow any interference in China's internal affairs.
The Taiwan issue is a question of China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity and is China's most important issue.
Such an arms sale would contravene the one China policy and
the three joint communiques, especially the August 17
Communique. Besides harming China's national security and
the peaceful reunification of Taiwan, Liu said, the sale
would also seriously affect the healthy stable bilateral
relationship that China and the United States currently
enjoy.


3. (C) DG Liu said the current situation regarding Taiwan
is in a highly dangerous period, with (Taiwan President)
Chen Shui-bian in full disregard of all international
opinion. He said Chen Shui-bian is aggravating the
situation during this sensitive time with his referendum to
join the United Nations, aiming to change the existing
status quo and promote cross-Strait conflict. Liu said
that if the United States agrees to sell these offensive
weapons to Taiwan, this would send a very wrong signal to
Chen Shui-bian and Taiwanese secessionist forces and
encourage them to be even more "unscrupulous."


4. (C) DG Liu stressed that the United States and China
have closely cooperated and consulted on a wide range of
important issues, from the DPRK and Iran to Darfur. In
addition, there will a number of high-level meetings and
discussions this year, with new opportunities for further
cooperation. It is important that both sides maintain the
good momentum in the bilateral relationship. Most
important is that the United States handle the Taiwan issue
in an appropriate manner. DG Liu expressed appreciation
for U.S. statements opposing Taiwan's referendum to join
the U.N. He hoped the United States would understand the
current grave and dangerous situation and urged the United
States to stop selling arms to Taiwan and stop all military
exchanges with Taiwan.

U.S. Sales Are in Accordance with U.S. Policy
--------------


5. (C) The DCM responded by reiterating the United States'
one China policy and stating that U.S. arms sold to Taiwan
are for defensive use. He stressed that the United States
opposes any unilateral action by either side that would
alter the cross-Strait status quo and noted that the United
States has publicly opposed the Taiwan UN referendum. He
stressed the importance of continuing bilateral cooperation
and not allowing the Taiwan issue to interfere with
bilateral cooperation. He promised to communicate China's
concerns to Washington.

Boeing Also Summoned
--------------


BEIJING 00004718 002 OF 002



6. (C) Moments after this meeting, the MFA summoned
Boeing's China Representative to the MFA and told him
flatly that Boeing should not sell Apache helicopters to
Taiwan. Afterwards, the Boeing representative called the
DCM to inform him of the meeting, adding that, although the
MFA had called him on the telephone in the past, this was
the first time he had been asked to come to the MFA and
hear first-hand China's objections to arms sales.
RANDT