JANUARY 23 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: ANTI-SATELLITE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000499 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KIRF PREF CH KN JA XA LE PK SUBJECT: JANUARY 23 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE TEST, SIX-PARTY TALKS, HU TO AFRICA, LEBANON CONFERENCE, WEN TO JAPAN, VATICAN-CHINA RELATIONS, DPRK BORDER-CROSSERS, PAKISTAN, HOSTAGES IN NIGERIA BEIJING 00000499 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. Key points made at the January 23 MFA press conference were: -- The MFA Spokesman confirmed the test of an anti- satellite missile earlier this month, said the test did not target any country and reaffirmed that China opposes the weaponization of space and will not participate in a space arms race. -- Reporters' suggestions that President Hu was unaware of the test were denounced as groundless. -- The MFA confirmed various meetings in Beijing this week related to the Six-Party Talks and said the upcoming phase of Talks will focus on implementation of the Joint Statement. -- President Hu will travel to Africa from January 30- February 10 visiting Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles. -- Special Envoy to the Middle East Sun Bigan will attend the international conference on Lebanon to be held in Paris January 25. -- PM Wen will visit Japan this spring and FM Li will visit both Japan and India in February. -- The Spokesman avoided questions about Chinese Catholics, PRC-DPRK agreements for handling illegal border crossers, Pakistan President Musharraf's travels to promote harmony in the Muslim world and whether ransom was paid to secure the release of Chinese hostages in Nigeria. Anti-Satellite Test Confirmed -------------- ¶2. Responding to a barrage of questions, MFA Spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed that China tested an anti- satellite missile earlier this month, adding that the test was not targeted at any country. Liu reaffirmed numerous times that China's position on space has not changed. China upholds peaceful exploration of space, opposes the weaponization of space and will not participate in a space arms race. Confronted by reporters about the seeming contradiction of testing a weapon while holding this position, Liu danced around the issue, but suggested that these actions might further promote de-weaponization of space. ¶3. A CNN reporter asked if President Hu was in the dark about the specifics of the test or if Hu authorized the test. Liu said such questioning was ;groundless and not helpful to understanding the matter. Other reporters raised the danger that debris from the test poses to other satellites and countries. Liu brushed this off as a technical matter outside his purview. He recommended that reporters review international law for relevant regulations. ¶4. Pressed to confirm which countries China informed about the test and when, Liu said that after the test was conducted and relevant parties showed concern, China decided there was a need to explain the test and responded to requests for information from the United States, Japan and others. He would not name other countries that were informed nor the precise time they were informed. When asked about the delay, Liu said China had nothing to hide, has shown a responsible attitude and responded promptly once other parties expressed their concern. Asked about Taiwan's concerns about Mainland China's actions in space and development of the Jian-10 bomber, Liu said that the anti-satellite test had no connection to Taiwan and the Jian-10 supported the One-China policy and anti- separatist efforts. Six-Party Talks Prep in Beijing, No Dates Given -------------- -- BEIJING 00000499 002.2 OF 003 ¶5. The progress hoped for by relevant parties in the upcoming round of Six-Party Talks includes laying out specific actions for each party to implement the September 18, 2005 Joint Statement in the initial period and ensuring the implementation of the Joint Statement through the establishment and continued improvement of an implementation mechanism, said Liu. He stated that since the last phase of the Six-Party Talks, parties have had consistent and broad contact with each other conducive to the upcoming round of the Talks and reiterated China's hope that all parties will take stable steps toward implementation of the Joint Statement. ¶6. Liu confirmed that PRC Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met, respectively, with Assistant Secretary of State Hill and DPRK Vice Minister Kim Kye-Gwan on January 21-22, at which time the two lead negotiators briefed VFM Wu on their recent meetings in Berlin. A/S Hill will meet with Japan delegation head Kenichiro Sasae while in Beijing and VFM Wu Dawei will hold discussions with both ROK chief negotiator to the Six-Party Talks Chun Young-woo and Kenichiro Sasae, Liu said, adding that parties were maintaining contact with Russia as well. ROK Foreign Minister Song Min- soon will also visit Beijing on an official visit January 24-27 to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula, Six-Party Talks and other issues of common interest. Asked by a reporter if financial talks would be held next week, Liu said that he had heard no such information. In response to a question on the possible meeting of ROK and DPRK negotiators in Beijing, Liu said that he had no news of such a meeting, but that such contact is conducive to the Talks. Hu to Visit 8 African Nations, Including Sudan -------------- - ¶7. Spokesman Liu announced that President Hu will travel to Africa from January 30-February 10, making state visits to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles at the invitation of these countries' leaders. This trip to further the new China-Africa Strategic Partnership follows up on a successful African Summit held in Beijing last year. Goals are to strengthen friendship, increase practical cooperation and spur development. ¶8. Responding to questions, Liu added that officials from the Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs will accompany President Hu. Meeting schedules, energy agreements and other signings are still under discussion. When asked about Darfur, Liu said that China has made effective contact with relevant parties, increased its understanding of the issue and taken constructive steps to resolve the crisis. Special Envoy to Attend Paris Meeting on Lebanon -------------- -------------- ¶9. Special Envoy to the Middle East Sun Bigan will attend an international conference for Lebanon to be held in Paris on January 25, said Liu. Though Liu did not disclose how much financial support China was willing to contribute at the conference, he said that China has shown a responsible attitude on this issue. PM Wen to Japan, FM Li to India & Japan -------------- ¶10. Liu confirmed PM Wen will visit Japan this spring and FM Li will visit both Japan and India in February, but released no details. He noted the importance of China-Japan relations, was happy to see high-level exchanges, and hoped both countries can maintain their momentum in improving relations. Asked to comment on Japanese media reports that President Hu will not BEIJING 00000499 003.2 OF 003 visit Japan in 2007, Liu said the reports were groundless speculation and visits will be made as bilateral relations dictate. Religious Freedom, Relations with the Vatican -------------- ¶11. A reporter asked repeated questions on treatment of Chinese Catholics and relations with the Vatican. Liu dismissed as hypothetical a question of whether or not China would recognize the underground Catholic Church within its border if normal diplomatic relations were established with the Vatican. He reiterated the importance of the Vatican's accepting China's conditions that it support the One-China Principle and not interfere in China's internal affairs under the name of religion if relations were to be normalized and said multiple times that China allows freedom of religion for all its people. The reporter asked if the inability of Chinese Catholics to practice religion freely extends this issue outside of China's domestic realm and into the Vatican's. Liu told the reporter to find the answer to her question in the PRC constitution and other laws and regulations on freedom of religion. Liu said that China has taken note of January 18 and 19 Vatican meetings on the Catholic Church of China and holds a positive attitude toward an upcoming meeting between Vietnamese and Vatican officials on January 25. DPRK-China Agreement on Illegal Border-crossers -------------- --- ¶12. Asked by a Japanese reporter to comment on a 1998 agreement between China and the DPRK to send each side photos and names of illegal border crossers, Liu did not confirm the specific agreement but said that China has long borders with many countries and has relevant arrangements to safeguard the peace,stability and tranquility of its neighbors. He added that China's position on illegal border-crossers has not changed and that related issues are handled in accordance with international law, domestic law and humanitarian spirit. China Supports Pakistan's Efforts To Promote Harmony -------------- -------------- ¶13. Asked to comment on Pakistan President Musharraf's upcoming visit to five countries for the purpose of promoting a harmonious Muslim world, Liu said that he had no news of the trip but that Pakistan is a friend of China's and China supports Pakistan's harmonious progress and work in the diplomatic field. Nigerian Hostages Return Home -------------- ¶14. A reporter asked whether five Chinese hostages held in Nigeria were released by ransom, force or other means, but Liu would provide no details claiming it would be a Qeat to other overseas Chinese workers. RANDT