OCTOBER 18 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DALAI LAMA VISIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 006732 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH BM TU VM VT IN RS KN SUBJECT: OCTOBER 18 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DALAI LAMA VISIT AND FALLOUT, VATICAN RELATIONS, SIX PT, JAPAN, VIETNAM BEIJING 00006732 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. Key points at the October 18 MFA Press Briefing: -- China regards the Dalai Lama's visit to the United States as blatant interference in China's internal affairs that has greatly undermined the relationship between the United States and China. FM Yang strongly protested the visit in an October 18 meeting with the U.S. Ambassador. -- China is willing establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican if the Vatican ends diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and stops interfering in China's internal affairs in the name of religion. -- The implementation of the October 3 joint statement is a sign of the progress of the Six Party Talks. -- China has noted investigations of embezzlement at the Japanese company responsible for the disposal of abandoned chemical weapons in China. China hopes the allegations will not affect weapons disposal and that Japan will settle the issue quickly. -- China congratulates Vietnam on its election to the UN Security Council and welcomes improved relations between Vietnam and North Korea. -- China's interactions in Burma have been "responsible" and "constructive." -- Regarding the Turkish Parliament's authorization of a deployment of troops to Iraq, China hopes the "relevant parties" in Iraq can solve the "relevant issues" through dialogue and consultation. -- Visit: The Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and India will meet October 24 in Harbin, China to explore "further cooperation" on political, economic, regional and international issues. Dalai Lama Visit Has "Greatly Undermined" Relations -------------- -------------- ¶2. At the October 18 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesman Liu Jianchao said the Dalai Lama's meetings with senior U.S. officials and his receiving of the Congressional Gold Medal were "blatant interference in China's internal affairs" that "severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people" and "greatly undermined the relationship" between the United States and China. Liu said FM Yang had on October 18 strongly protested the visit to Ambassador Randt. (Note: Liu was present at the meeting in which Foreign Minister Yang protested the Dalai Lama,s U.S. visit to the Ambassador ) septel.) Liu said that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, that Tibet is a "wholly internal affair" of China and that China is "resolutely opposed to any interference in China's domestic affairs by any nation or any individual taking advantage of the Dalai Lama issue." Liu said China considered the Dalai Lama's meetings in Washington a serious violation of the "fundamental norms of international relations" and stressed China's "firm resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity." He urged the United States to "cease supporting the conniving separatist activities of the Tibetan independence forces," to "stop interfering in China's internal affairs," to take "effective measures" to remove the "terrible impact of its erroneous act" and to take "concrete steps to protect the U.S.-China relationship." When asked about concrete consequences, Liu reiterated that U.S. actions have undermined the U.S.-China relationship and that the United States should stop supporting the "conniving activities" of separatists. When asked twice more for specific details of the consequences, Liu replied that he had already answered the question. Dalai Lama is a Purely Internal Issue -------------- ¶3. Asked about the Dalai Lama's statements that he does not seek independence, Liu replied that the "Chinese people know better than anyone what kind of person the Dalai Lama is." Liu said that in Tibet in the past there existed a system of "serfdom" led by the Dalai Lama. Liu said that in 1959, the Dalai Lama planned and participated in a military revolt and since his flight abroad following his defeat he has "never BEIJING 00006732 002.2 OF 003 ceased conniving and manipulating" Tibetans abroad to split China. Liu said that independence is the essence of all the Dalai Lama's claims. The Dalai Lama's statement that China should not station troops in Tibet is "independence in disguise." Liu further noted that "any attempt to split China is doomed to failure." When asked if China is willing to receive the Dalai Lama's envoys, Liu responded that the Dalai Lama's previous actions show that he lacks sincerity. Aftermath of the Visit -------------- ¶4. Asked what concrete steps China hopes the United States will take, Liu replied that China has made representation to the United States and that the United States is clear on what China wants. He urged the United States to stop interfering in China's internal affairs. Asked about President Bush's statement that the Dalai Lama should be allowed to return to China, Liu said that how China deals with the Dalai Lama is China's internal affair and others should not interfere. Asked if NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo would go to the United States and, if not, was the cancellation related to the Dalai Lama, Liu responded that he "hadn't heard of the arrangement." When asked about a phone call between President Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao, Liu again responded that he "hadn't heard of the arrangement." Diplomatic Relations with the Vatican -------------- ¶5. Asked about rumors that China is willing to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican if it breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Liu said that China sincerely hopes that relations can be normalized, but two preconditions exist: first the Vatican must accept a one-China policy and recognize Taiwan as an inseparable part of China; second, the Vatican must stop interfering in China's internal affairs in the name of religion. Implementation of the Six-Party Talks Joint Statement -------------- -------------- ¶6. Asked about the return of the Six-Party Talks team of experts to Beijing and the progress of the "second phase action" to implement the October 3 joint statement, Liu said that implementation of the joint statement is a "signal for new and important progress in the Six-Party Talks," and China hopes the joint statement will be smoothly implemented in a "comprehensive, balanced way." Embezzlement at Chemical Weapons Disposal Company -------------- -------------- ¶7. Liu said China has taken note of investigations of embezzlement at Pacific Consultants International, a Japanese company handling the disposal of abandoned chemical weapons in China. He said that the work of dealing with abandoned chemical weapons is important for the Chemical Weapons Convention as well as for the memorandum of understanding between Japan and China. He expressed hope that the investigation will not affect the progress of the work, and that Japan will "be responsible" and settle this issue at an early date. Vietnam on the UN Security Council -------------- ¶8. Asked to comment on Vietnam's election to the UN Security Council (UNSC),as well as on the Secretary General of the Vietnamese Communist Party's visit to North Korea, Liu said that China supports and congratulates Vietnam. He added that China has "friendly neighborly relations" with both Vietnam and North Korea and welcomes improved relations between them. China and Burma -------------- ¶9. Asked about allegations that China has been using its influence in the UNSC to block resolutions on Burma, Liu responded that China has been "responsible" and will continue to be "constructive" in the region. Turkish Troops to Northern Iraq BEIJING 00006732 003.2 OF 003 -------------- ¶10. Asked to comment on the Turkish Parliament's authorization of the deployment of troops to Kurdish northern Iraq, Liu said China follows developments in the region and hopes the "relevant parties" can solve the "relevant issues" through dialogue and consultation. Political Statements during the Olympics -------------- ¶11. When asked if China would "condemn" athletes who made political statements during the Olympics about topics like Falun Gong, human rights or the Dalai Lama, Liu responded that China welcomes athletes, trainers and other connected with the Olympics, as well as all the world's people to come participate, China hopes that people will bring a spirit of fair competition to make the event a success and strengthen friendship around the world. Amnesty International Allegations -------------- ¶12. When asked about an Amnesty International report that the Chinese government had locked up dissidents during the 17th Party Congress, Liu responded that he hadn't seen the report. Meeting of Three Foreign Ministers -------------- ¶13. Visit: The Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and India will meet October 24 in Harbin, China to explore "further cooperation" on political, economic, regional and international issues. Randt