CHINESE RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIAN M/V IRAN MATIN

S E C R E T CANBERRA 001771

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EUR, T AND ISN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2032
TAGS: PARM PREL MASS PTER AS CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIAN M/V IRAN MATIN
DEMARCHE

REF: A. CANBERRA 1757

B. BEIJING 7511

C. CANBERRA 1751

D. STATE 165987 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d
).


1. (S) Further to Ref A, Counter-Proliferation Director
Gerry McGuire gave us a readout December 18 of the results of
Australia's demarche in Beijing on December 14 on the M/V
Iran Matin. Upon the U.S. request for Australia and the UK
to demarche China (Ref D),DFAT had sought authorization to
proceed from newly-appointed Foreign Minister Stephen Smith,
then in Bali with PM Rudd for the climate change talks.
Smith had agreed readily, McGuire said.


2. (S) The Australian Embassy in Beijing had been instructed
to demarche at a Deputy Head of Mission equivalent level in
MFA, but in the absence of a suitable interlocutor and given
the urgency of the topic, the demarche was delivered to Zhang
Junan, a section head in the Department of Arms Control and
Disarmament, on December 14. The Australian demarche closely
followed that provided in Ref D, McGuire recounted, including
furnishing Zhang with the description of the cargo and
details of the shipping documentation.


3. (S) According to McGuire, Zhang noted that the United
States had delivered an almost identical demarche on December

12. China had quickly launched an investigation and agreed
to share the results, Zhang had said, taking into
consideration China's strong position on
counterproliferation. As with Wu Haitao's response to the
United States (Ref B),Zhang emphasized China's careful
approach to export controls, stressing PRC's efforts to
ensure all exports complied fully with domestic and
international laws. Its arms trade with Iran was very
limited, Zhang noted, adding that, following passage of
UNSCRs 1737 and 1747, China had been even more stringent than
the resolutions called for. In regulating its exports, Zhang
said China took into account instability in other parts of
the world and the sensitivities of other countries (note:
possibly a reference to the United States),according to
McGuire.


4. (S) Zhang told the Australia Embassy official that China
attached great importance to its cooperation with both the
United States and Australia, McGuire said, and then ended
with a rebuke: "If Australia and the United States continue
to coordinate their demarches as closely as in this case, you
should provide accurate information to the Chinese side."
Zhang clarified that the lading list from the United States
was "inaccurate and incomplete."


5. (S) McGuire said the GOA would welcome the U.S. reaction
to the Chinese claim in para 4 above.

CLUNE