(S) GOS STILL PURSUING SOKKIA AND MACHINE TOOL

S E C R E T SINGAPORE 000175 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017 TAGS: ETTC MNUC MTCRE PARM PREL SN IR KN SUBJECT: (S) GOS STILL PURSUING SOKKIA AND MACHINE TOOL CASES REF: A. STATE 7886 ¶B. STATE 7859 ¶C. SINGAPORE 23 Classified By: E/P Counselor Ike Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Econoff on January 23 delivered ref A talking points and ref B non-paper to Yvonne Ow, Assistant Director, International Organizations, MFA. Ow thanked us for the additional information about the computer numerically controlled machine tools and the Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). She said that the GOS was currently investigating both Lam Seng Heng Co. Pte. Ltd. and Sokkia Singapore Pte. Ltd. The GOS also planned to contact both companies as part of its industry outreach effort prior to expanding Singapore's export control list next year, she continued. (Note: MFA recently told us that the GOS had contacted a suspect company under the pretense of outreach in order to put the company on notice that its activities were being monitored (ref C). End note.) ¶2. (S) Econoff underscored that the USG could potentially sanction Sokkia and Lam Seng Heng under the INKSNA and explained that any information the GOS provided regarding its investigations would be considered when determining whether to impose sanctions. Ow said the MFA will provide us with the details of both investigations once they have been completed. FERGIN