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

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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
-------------- --

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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

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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