SENATOR LIEBERMAN ON FOOD SAFETY, DARFUR, IRAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005323 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PMUC PTER PHUM IZ IR KN TC TW CH SUBJECT: SENATOR LIEBERMAN ON FOOD SAFETY, DARFUR, IRAN, DPRK, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRENDS AND TAIWAN Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) China has been unfairly vilified over recent product safety scandals in U.S. media, National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Jiang Enzhu told visiting Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) August 6. China is taking action to identify and shut down unlicensed, non-compliant firms exporting unsafe food products. China values its cooperation with the United States and will continue to work to implement UNSC Resolutions on Iran and Darfur. Diplomatic efforts are now needed to resolve both crises, Jiang said, rather than new sanctions on Iran or action without Khartoum's consent in Sudan. China "strictly prohibits" proliferation by Chinese entities and takes action when such violations are discovered. China remains cautiously optimistic regarding prospects for success in the Six-Party process, and believes that the DPRK leadership is genuinely committed to denuclearization and economic development. Strengthening China's social safety net infrastructure will "naturally" stimulate domestic consumption. Dogmatic Marxist ideology is on the wane in China, and traditional Confucian values are on the rise, Jiang said. End Summary. Food Safety -------------- ¶2. (C) At a dinner hosted by Chinese National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Jiang Enzhu on August 6, visiting Senator Joseph Lieberman raised the import safety issue. Regardless of the small percentage of products involved, Senator Lieberman said, if American mothers begin to doubt the safety of products labeled "Made in China" at the grocery store, there will be major problems for U.S.-China relations. Acknowledging that the problem may lie with lax provincial-level regulation, Senator Lieberman urged the Chinese central government to "take control." Jiang asserted that China already has licensing requirements for food exports and has taken action to shut down small, unlicensed firms when they are discovered. Jiang claimed that over 95 percent of Chinese food exports to the United States from China are safe and that the same cannot be said of U.S. imports from Mexico, India and the Dominican Republic. To help make China's existing regulations more effective, Jiang suggested, the United States should prohibit American firms from importing goods from unlicensed Chinese food sellers. Jiang complained that the U.S. media vilifies China, claiming that reports of faulty Chinese tires were false. Iran -------------- ¶3. (C) China welcomes the recent encouraging progress of the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency's recent technical-level negotiations with Iran. This shows the value of dialogue in addressing Iran's nuclear program, Jiang said. China is committed to implementing UN Security Council Resolutions 1737 and 1747, but attempting to "expand" the resolutions to address conventional weapons is "off-base" and imposing additional sanctions "should not be our focus." Senator Lieberman argued that though the United States values China's cooperation on nonproliferation, we cannot ignore evidence of Chinese companies supplying Iranian entities that support ballistic and nuclear weapons programs, and China should not ignore this either. Chinese sniper rifles turning up in enemy hands in Iraq and Afghanistan are also cause for grave concern. Iran is the single greatest threat to American security and also a threat to peace and stability worldwide, Senator Lieberman stated. Additionally, China's perceived tolerance of this situation gives ammunition to those in the United States who oppose close ties with China. Darfur -------------- ¶4. (C) China views UNSC Resolution 1769 as "major progress" on the crisis in Darfur and will continue to pressure Sudanese President Bashir to accept a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force, Jiang stated. He added that sending in peacekeepers without Khartoum's support will not be effective. Senator Lieberman reminded Jiang of Bashir's record of making and then breaking promises, urging China to recognize its role as the "single biggest influence" on Khartoum and use the full leverage of its investment in Sudan's energy sector. China will remain actively engaged, BEIJING 00005323 002 OF 002 Jiang promised, adding that China's commercial investments in Sudan are actually a constructive part of the comprehensive political, economic and humanitarian solution that all sides should pursue. Citing ongoing Chinese humanitarian projects in Sudan, he insisted that China is "not turning a blind eye to the humanitarian crisis for the sake of oil." China must take concrete measures to demonstrate that, responded Mrs. Lieberman, also a guest at the dinner. As a powerful nation, China's actions send important signals, she said. Senator Lieberman said he opposes efforts to boycott the Beijing Olympics over the Darfur issue, but noted that the activists calling for such measures have sincere concerns which China must address. DPRK -------------- ¶5. (C) Senator Lieberman hailed the Six-Party Talks as an example of the good work the United States and China can achieve through cooperation on major global challenges. He said some Americans remain suspicious that the DPRK will pull out of negotiations without abandoning its weapons, as it did in the 1990s. Senator Lieberman asked if China sees a real intention to denuclearize this time. Jiang said the DPRK's primary goal is economic developments. Visits to China by Kim Jong-Il and other DPRK leaders have convinced them that "reform and opening up" is the best path to that goal. While there may be roadblocks in negotiations along the way, Jiang said, ultimately the DPRK will denuclearize to earn its place in the international political and economic system. Chinese Domestic Trends -------------- ¶6. (C) Senator Lieberman said he considers himself a friend of China but has concerns that China's economy relies excessively on exports without sufficient domestic consumption. This creates problems for China's trading partners, but also threatens China's own sustained economic growth, he said. Jiang acknowledged that the Chinese save too much and spend too little. The Chinese government is taking active steps to combat the problemby improvingsocial safety net mechanisms, esecially in the poorest areas. Government emplyees and workers at state-owned enterprises ejoy good social security infrastructure, but rurl farmers and many private-sector employee do not, Jiang said. Improving this system wil alleviate Chinese people's fears about "rainy day" financial burdens and free them to spend more, he predicted. Senator Lieberman cited an article in a U.S. publication on the resurgence of traditional Confucian values in Chinese society and the decline of orthodox Marxist thinking. Jiang acknowledged the trend and said the government is pleased with the development, characterizing the recent Party mantras of "stability" and "harmonious society" as age-old Confucian values. Taiwan -------------- ¶7. (C) Jiang reiterated familiar Chinese points on the current "dangerous and delicate" situation in cross-Strait relations. He urged Senator Lieberman to use his influence as a "prominent American statesman" to convince both the Administration and Congress to take a "more explicit" stand against Taiwan independence and to "avoid sending wrong signals." ¶8. (U) Codel Lieberman cleared this cable. RANDT