PRC/ASAT: AFM HE SAYS "TEST" POSES NO THREAT; NO PLANS FOR FURTHER TESTS

S E C R E T BEIJING 000473



SIPDIS



SIPDIS



E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2032

TAGS: PREL, PARM, MNUC, MARR, CH

SUBJECT: PRC/ASAT: AFM HE SAYS "TEST" POSES NO THREAT; NO

PLANS FOR FURTHER TESTS



REF: A. BEIJING 331

B. STATE 4837 (NOTAL)



Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (a

, b, d, e and g)



1. (S) Delivering the Chinese Government's formal

response to our January 15 demarche on China's ASAT

test, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei told

Assistant Secretary Hill January 21 that the test

poses no threat to any other nation, targeted no third

country and that "for the time being, China has no

plans for further tests." AFM He provided this

information during a wider meeting on overall

bilateral issues at the Diaoyutai State Guest House

(other discussions reported septel). AFM He added

that China continues to support the peaceful use and

non-weaponization of outer space and never has and

never will participate in an arms race in space. To

implement the consensus President Bush and President

Hu reached regarding civil use of outer space, the

Chinese side remains ready to enhance coordination and

communication, AFM He said. A/S Hill pressed AFM He

to elaborate on what kind of test China conducted and

its purpose, but AFM He said he has no authorization

to discuss details.



2. (S) A/S Hill, underlining the significance of the

issue, stressed that our information indicates China's

action constituted a military test of an anti-

satellite system. Our concern is that the test is at

odds with the constructive relationship President Bush

and President Hu pledged to pursue on civil space

cooperation. In addition, the United States is

concerned that the test created a debris field that

could affect other satellites using that orbit. The

debris field could also endanger human space flight

and harm scientific research. Pointing out that AFM

He's comments are the first official response we have

heard on the matter, A/S Hill emphasized that the

explanation does not square with China's stated

position of not wishing to embark on any kind of arms

race in outer space. A/S Hill cautioned AFM He that

the United States knows what happened and that we

remain concerned that China has not adequately

explained the true purpose of the test.



3. (S) A/S Hill stated that the last thing the United

States wants is to have an arms race in outer space

with China. He pointed out that the provocative

nature of the test raises questions that China will

have to answer. Taking note of the position and

concerns of the United States, AFM He said he had no

further information but promised to report "to the

relevant authorities."



4. (S) A/S Hill also raised our concerns about the

ASAT test with Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei at a

subsequent dinner on January 21, noting that AFM He's

explanation was unsatisfactory. A visibly

uncomfortable VFM Wu said that the Australian and

Japanese Ambassadors had raised the test with him. Wu

said he and others at the MFA knew nothing about the

test and deflected further questioning by claiming

that "this is outside my portfolio."

RANDT