Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING7069
2007-11-13 00:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
CHINA: GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
how-toVZCZCXRO4191 OO RUEHDT RUEHKN RUEHMJ DE RUEHBJ #7069 3170029 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 130029Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3399 RUEHBD/AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 0505 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 5672 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9567 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 3676 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 1909 RUEHKN/AMEMBASSY KOLONIA 0014 RUEHKR/AMEMBASSY KOROR 0016 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 2538 RUEHMJ/AMEMBASSY MAJURO 0130 RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 0946 RUEHPY/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0140 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0405 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 9246 RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0077 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1645 RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 4157 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0615 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 4646 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 007069
SIPDIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPEO MASS MPOS CH
SUBJECT: CHINA: GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PD (MCLOUGHLIN)
REF: STATE 152754
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta
for Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 007069
SIPDIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPEO MASS MPOS CH
SUBJECT: CHINA: GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PD (MCLOUGHLIN)
REF: STATE 152754
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta
for Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Post recommends against commemorating the hundredth
anniversary of the Great White Fleet's visit to China.
Although the circumnavigation of the Great White Fleet was a
significant moment in American naval history, Post believes
that, in China, commemorating this first display of U.S.
global military strength is complicated by the less than
successful history of the visit.
2. (C) U.S. Navy historical accounts suggest that the Qing
Government perceived a "loss of face" when only half of the
fleet actually called at Xiamen (Amoy),compared with the
successful visit of the whole fleet to Beijing's then-rival
Tokyo. Other issues during the visit equally call into
question the desirability its commemoration in China.
Furthermore, one of Post's academic contacts at the
MFA-affiliated China Foreign Affairs University assessed
turn-of-the-century U.S. foreign policy as "imperialist," and
suggested that the Great White Fleet was aimed "showing off"
U.S. naval power.
3. (C) Post underscores its continued desire to build mutual
trust and understanding with China and to expand
military-to-military contacts. The United States pursues
multiple avenues to develop these ties, but the complication
posed by the commemoration of the Great White Fleet, given
its mixed reception 100 years ago, is not desirable at this
time.
Randt
SIPDIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPEO MASS MPOS CH
SUBJECT: CHINA: GREAT WHITE FLEET COMMEMORATION
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PD (MCLOUGHLIN)
REF: STATE 152754
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta
for Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Post recommends against commemorating the hundredth
anniversary of the Great White Fleet's visit to China.
Although the circumnavigation of the Great White Fleet was a
significant moment in American naval history, Post believes
that, in China, commemorating this first display of U.S.
global military strength is complicated by the less than
successful history of the visit.
2. (C) U.S. Navy historical accounts suggest that the Qing
Government perceived a "loss of face" when only half of the
fleet actually called at Xiamen (Amoy),compared with the
successful visit of the whole fleet to Beijing's then-rival
Tokyo. Other issues during the visit equally call into
question the desirability its commemoration in China.
Furthermore, one of Post's academic contacts at the
MFA-affiliated China Foreign Affairs University assessed
turn-of-the-century U.S. foreign policy as "imperialist," and
suggested that the Great White Fleet was aimed "showing off"
U.S. naval power.
3. (C) Post underscores its continued desire to build mutual
trust and understanding with China and to expand
military-to-military contacts. The United States pursues
multiple avenues to develop these ties, but the complication
posed by the commemoration of the Great White Fleet, given
its mixed reception 100 years ago, is not desirable at this
time.
Randt