CHINA NUCLEAR FORCE COMMANDER REITERATES "NO FIRST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 005707

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2032
TAGS: PREL MOPS MNUC PARM CH TW
SUBJECT: CHINA NUCLEAR FORCE COMMANDER REITERATES "NO FIRST
USE" POLICY TO CODEL SKELTON

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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


1. (C) China's strategic nuclear and conventional missile
force commander General Jing Zhiyuan told CODEL Skelton
August 27 that China's "no first use" policy remains
unchanged and will "never change." He stressed that China's
strategic missile force is solely for self defense. On force
modernization, Gen. Jing said that since China is a
developing country, its nuclear force development is limited
as well. Regarding Taiwan, he said China will never tolerate
Taiwan independence. However, he underscored that the
deployment of missiles on China's southeastern coast does not
necessarily imply that China will use them. On nuclear
safety, Gen. Jing said an unauthorized or accidental launch
of nuclear weapons is "definitely impossible". End Summary.


2. (U) A delegation led by House Armed Services Committee
Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) and including Representatives
Randy Forbes (R-VA),John Spratt (R-SC),Robin Hayes (R-NC),
Jeff Flake (R-AZ),Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH),Delegate
Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) and Rear Admiral Mark Ferguson, met
with Second Artillery commander General Jing Zhiyuan August

27. It was the first CODEL to visit the Second Artillery.

China's Nuclear Policy: No First Use
--------------


3. (C) Gen. Jing reiterated the importance of developing
state-to-state and military-to-military common ground, mutual
understanding, friendship and trust. He said that China and
the United States are both stakeholders and constructive
partners. In order to "promote strategic trust," Jing
provided his perspective on nuclear policy and strategy. He
underscored that China has a "no first use" policy on nuclear
weapons. This policy remains unchanged and will "never
change." China is a "peace loving" nation which conducts an
independent foreign policy of peace and carries out
initiatives to establish a "harmonious world," Jing said.
The purpose of China's nuclear weapons is self defense.
"Atomic bombs cannot solve the problems of war," he
continued. There would be no winners, only huge losses. We
do not want to suffer nuclear threat or attack and do not
want other countries to suffer, Jing added.


4. (C) Although China's nuclear capability is limited, it has
"protective capability, survivability and counter-attack
capability," the General said. China has had nuclear weapons
for years, and its national security has been threatened on
occasion, but its "no first use" policy has not changed. One
should "watch words and deeds" when measuring the policy of a
country, Jing stressed. He highlighted China's participation
in international nuclear regulatory frameworks, including the
nonproliferation treaty, cessation of nuclear testing,
nuclear test ban treaty, multiple bilateral "no first use"
agreements, among others.

China's Nuclear Deterrent and Military Modernization
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Congresswoman Bordallo (D-GU) asked why China is
manufacturing nuclear weapons in large numbers. Jing replied
that the danger of nuclear weapons lies in the hands of those
who control them, not in the weapons themselves. He repeated
that the strategic missile force is solely for self defense,
and he hopes that China will never use these weapons. On the
development of China's strategic force, Jing emphasized the
principle of small quantity, high quality weapons as well as
superiority, performance, effectiveness and reliability.
China does not seek quality without superiority. If an enemy
tries to destroy China, China will retaliate, he stated.
China maintains a nuclear deterrent at the minimum level
necessary for self defense.


6. (C) Chairman Skelton said both countries are working to
modernize their militaries, and "you are undoubtedly working
to modernize the Second Artillery." Congressman Forbes
(R-VA) asked the General how modernization is affecting
priorities and "what you do." China is a developing country,
and its nuclear force development is limited as well, said
Jing. China's 2006 Defense White Paper noted that its
military budget is only 10 percent of the U.S. defense

BEIJING 00005707 002 OF 003


budget. Improving equipment is part of the budget, and the
improvement of the Second Artillery's equipment is an even
smaller percentage of the budget.

Taiwan
--------------


7. (C) Congressman Flake (R-AZ) said one source of
apprehension for the United States has been the hundreds of
missiles pointed toward Taiwan. He noted the apparent
inconsistency with the defensive posture of the Chinese
military. Gen. Jing replied that China deploys conventional
missiles on the southeast coast because Taiwan is an integral
and inseparable part of China, and Taiwan's status is an
internal affair at core of the nation's interests. Taiwan
independence and separatist activities are the root cause of
instability and are the biggest threat to cross-Strait peace,
he said. China will never tolerate Taiwan's separation from
China by any means, at any time or under any circumstances.
The deployment of these conventional missiles is not targeted
at "our Taiwan compatriots" or other countries and is not a
threat to other countries. These missiles target
independence forces, he stressed. Just like the deployment
of nuclear weapons, the deployment of conventional missiles
in a region does not necessarily imply that China will use
them. Jing stated China will do everything it can for the
peace and stability of cross-Strait relations and the
motherland.

Nuclear Safety and Security
--------------


8. (C) Congressman Spratt (R-SC) thanked Gen. Jing for the
informative presentation on China's nuclear doctrine and
asked about security and safeguards of nuclear systems. In
particular, the DF-11 and DF-15 missiles are road mobile and
rail mobile, therefore susceptible to sabotage. Jing said
China is a responsible country that attaches a high
importance to preventing unauthorized access to nuclear
weapons. The management and control of nuclear weapons is
reliable and safe. Unauthorized or accidental launch is
"definitely impossible," the General continued. He explained
that China stores nuclear weapons according to strict
operational and tactical criteria and has reliable tactical
means and monitoring to ensure safety. He cited a personal
example, stating that even as the Second Artillery commander,
he has to apply for access to launch facilities and be
escorted by his staff. In addition, the command authority is
highly centralized and under the direct control of the
Central Military Commission (CMC). The Second Artillery
follows the orders of the CMC in a "strict and accurate" way.
It acts as an organ to execute orders from the CMC, and
orders are jointly signed by the Commanding General,
Political Commissar (i.e., Communist Party representative)
and Chief of Staff.


9. (C) When Chairman Skelton asked what worries Gen. Jing
most about what might go wrong, the General said that
superiors trust their subordinates and are fully confident in
them. Jing asked rhetorically how China could ensure
absolute safety if not fully confident in its rank and file,
and said he would not be a fully competent commander if he
did not have full confidence in his junior officers.

Military-to-Military Exchanges, Officer Training
-------------- ---


10. (C) Chairman Skelton said he supports
military-to-military exchanges, not just at the level of
generals and admirals, and hopes that in a few years younger
officers might particpate in military exchanges as well.
While the Second Artillery differs from the structure of U.S.
forces and does not have an exact counterpart, the Second
Artillery should initiate a dialogue with U.S. Strategic
Command (USSTRATCOM) in the near future. Jing said he
thought such a visit would be conducive to the enhancement of
strategic trust.


11. (C) Gen. Jing said that most officers are recruited from
bachelors' degree programs, and Second Artillery relies on
on-the-job training after entry. In this area, he
highlighted experience from other militaries, including that
of the United States. Before promotion, officers must do
additional study in military academies or colleges.


BEIJING 00005707 003 OF 003


Overview of the Second Artillery
--------------


12. (C) Gen. Jing's Director General of Operations, Senior
Colonel Li Longhu, gave a slide presentation on the
organization and structure of the Second Artillery. At the
top of the Second Artillery hierarchy are the Commander and
Political Commissar, who is the Communist Party
representative. Just below are the deputy commanders, deputy
commissars and the Chief of Staff. Their staff consists of
four first-order departments: headquarters, political,
armaments and logistics. The logistics department supports
operations, training and "order placement." The political
department oversees personnel, ideological work and Communist
affairs. The armaments department covers procurement,
research and development, and management and maintenance of
weapons. The Second Artillery as a whole is divided into
three parts based on missions: nuclear missiles, conventional
missiles and support units.


13. (C) The Second Artillery controls missile bases, training
bases, academies, scientific research centers and supporting
units, Col. Li continued. On the job training occurs in
three ways. First, specialized training is done at the basic
unit level. Second, combined training is coordinated with
all elements, performed at the team level and then at the
brigade level. Finally, operational exercises include
missile brigades, units in combat scenarios and command and
control. Second Artillery officer personnel typically
graduate from civilian undergraduate and postgraduate
institutions and then join operational units. During their
careers, officers receive on-the-job and rotational training
and may attend intermediate and senior command colleges. To
reach the division or regimental level, officers must
complete professional military education (PME).
Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) receive appointments after
training at an academy or specialized institution.


14. (C) Weaponry in the Second Artillery is developed
"independently or on the basis of self reliance." The
command has "well supported" nuclear and conventional weapons
of various ranges. Nuclear weapons include the DF-3, DF-4,
DF-5, DF-21 and DF-31 missiles on mobile platforms or silos.
On the conventional side, the DF-11 and DF-15 are on mobile
platforms. The command follows the "revolution in military
affairs" and emphasizes high quality, safety and limited
scale.

Deepening Trust
--------------


15. (C) Chairman Skelton thanked Gen. Jing for the
opportunity to visit with him. He expressed appreciation for
Jing's "candor" and comments on "no first use" and
nonproliferation, especially in light of threats posed by
North Korea, Iran and rogue groups. Jing replied that he
appreciated the frank atmosphere and expressed confidence
that the discussion was a "sign of deepening trust." He
noted that the delegation was the second foreign group to
visit the Second Artillery. The first was former Defense
Secretary Rumsfeld's in 2005. As the delegation was leaving

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the meeting hall, the General said, "let us join hand in hand
to maintain world peace together."


16. (U) The delegation cleared this cable.
Randt