U.S.-CHINA COUNTERTERRORISM DIALOGUE: BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001159 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2033 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KOLY CVIS CH SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA COUNTERTERRORISM DIALOGUE: BILATERAL COOPERATION, OLYMPICS/TORCH RELAY SECURITY, AIR MARSHALS (PART 1 OF 4) REF: BEIJING 930 BEIJING 00001159 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) U.S. Ambassador at Large for Counterterrorism Dell Dailey and MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department Director General Wu Hailong shared proposals for enhancing bilateral counterterrorism cooperation during the March 25 U.S.-China Counterterrorism Dialogue in Beijing. Ambassador Dailey proposed conducting a biological terrorism table-top exercise for U.S. and Chinese officials and invited Chinese officials to visit Washington for briefings at the National Counterterrorism Center. DG Wu and Ambassador Dailey discussed options for exchanging information and ensuring Olympic security. China is concerned that "Tibet independence elements, Falun Gong and East Turkistan terrorists" could disrupt the Olympic Torch Relay in San Francisco, Wu said. Ambassador Dailey expressed confidence in San Francisco City and federal authorities to ensure a safe and successful event, but explained to Wu the U.S. requirement to balance media access with security and lawful dissent. The two sides also discussed methods for enhancing air marshal cooperation, including by streamlining visa procedures. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During the March 25 U.S.-China Counterterrorism Dialogue in Beijing DG Wu, described bilateral counterterrorism cooperation as "fruitful" and based on "mutual cooperation and equal benefit." Agreeing with Wu's characterization, Ambassador Dailey, accompanied by Ambassador Randt, shared with Wu a number of proposals to enhance bilateral cooperation. He proposed conducting a biological terrorism table-top exercise for U.S. and Chinese officials and he invited Chinese officials to visit Washington for briefings on the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC),chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, terrorist trends and threats to aviation, and trends and terrorist use of fraudulent documents. Wu welcomed these initiatives and promised to give them positive consideration. Olympic Security Cooperation -------------- ¶3. (C) China hopes to increase cooperation with the United States on Olympic security, Wu said, citing FBI Director Mueller's recent visit to China and noting the United States' "significant experience" in hosting the Olympic Games. Wu emphasized that 10,000 athletes from 200 countries will attend the Olympics, and more than 100 "registered" heads of state including the Bush family and royal families will be in attendance at either the opening or closing ceremonies. 30,000 journalists (both "registered" and "unregistered") and a large number of spectators and "unregistered" VIPs are also expected to attend, complicating the security situation. Wu asked the United States to assist China by providing Beijing with: -- a list of names of terrorists potentially targeting the Olympic Games; -- a detailed list of organizations that may stage attacks during the Games; -- intelligence regarding possible attacks; -- descriptions of the tactics such groups may have employed at previous Games; -- information on U.S. expertise in early warning and rapid intelligence sharing during the Games; -- a communications mechanism to ensure quick sharing of BEIJING 00001159 002.2 OF 003 intelligence throughout the Games; -- an update to the U.S. Threat Assessment report on the Olympics; -- access to the FBI and other agency terror suspect databases; and -- information on possible terrorist attacks on flights to and from China. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Dailey described the Embassy's plans to establish an interagency Joint Operations Center (JOC) during the Olympics that will "speak with one voice" on behalf of the U.S. Government. All U.S. Executive Branch agencies will be represented and the JOC will ensure that communications and intelligence are quickly and appropriately shared. Ambassador Dailey stressed the importance of Chinese inter-agency elements communicating seamlessly with the JOC. He requested that China expeditiously approve the security cooperation plan, which is close to resolution with Olympic access accreditation still under review. ¶5. (C) Ambassador Dailey noted that the United States will share all appropriate information with China. He explained that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in cooperation with eight federal law enforcement agencies, will provide to China in April or May an updated threat assessment report on the Olympics. The United States will also arrange a briefing for China at the NCTC on regional terror trends and threats to aviation. With regard to the Chinese request that the FBI share its database with Beijing, Ambassador Dailey explained why an outright transfer of data is not possible and instead suggested a modified system as a compromise. Under the Advance Passenger Information (API) initiative, he said, U.S. law enforcement agencies receive from participating countries names of possible terrorists and in return provides passenger manifests and pertinent law enforcement information. Ambassador Dailey noted that this approach was successfully employed during the cricket World Cup matches, where it was used to identify six terrorists, 50-60 criminals and an indefinite number of fraudulently-documented travelers. ¶6. (C) Embassy's Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) pointed out that the U.S. Olympic Committee passed the flight schedules of 1,150 U.S. athletes, trainers and coaches to China. While not comprehensive, this list includes American athlete arrivals from other countries in Asia as well. This list is expected to be finalized in April and the OSC will provide any necessary updates. ¶7. (C) Ambassador Dailey said it is understood in the intelligence community that information sharing is a "revolving door." The receiving country examines the information and adds to it and then returns it to the sending country for further development. This is the relationship we want with China, he said. Wu said he agreed. Security Concerns for Olympic Torch Relay Reiterated -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) DG Wu said China appreciates the efforts of the San Francisco City Government to ensure a safe and successful Olympic Torch Relay in the city. He noted that he had traveled to San Francisco recently to see the exact route along which the torch will pass and to meet city and federal officials. At least 5,000 "Tibet independence elements" will protest the relay, Wu claimed, and the reputation of the Olympic Games and the United States in the eyes of the Chinese people will be hurt if the Relay is disrupted. He asked the Untied States to take "all necessary measures" to cooperate with China to ensure a secure event. Saying that "Tibet independence elements" have a "strong tendency" to use force, Wu requested the United States provide security for BEIJING 00001159 003.2 OF 003 the Chinese plane carrying the torch and 180 Chinese operation and advance team officials who will accompany the torch. He asked the United States to treat the aircraft like a "VIP plane" and heighten the guard force for it. "Please ensure that Tibet independence elements, Falun Gong and East Turkistan terrorists do not attack the operation and advance teams' residences, food and travel," Wu asked. ¶9. (C) Ambassador Dailey said the United States understands the sensitivity of this issue. He noted that the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has handled tougher situations in the past and has the assistance of the FBI and other federal agencies. He stressed to Wu that the Torch Relay is a newsworthy event and that the United States will have to balance media access with security and potential legal protest. Embassy RSO noted that the Department is working with the SFPD to ensure adequate security for the plane and the Chinese operations and advance teams. Air Marshal Cooperation -------------- ¶10. (C) Noting a "March 7 incident" on board a China Southern airliner (reftel),Wu requested that General Administration for Civil Aviation Chief of Air Marshal Command Song Shengli comment on bilateral cooperation to prevent attacks on U.S. and Chinese international flights. Song proposed establishing a medium and long-term training program. He also proposed establishing a "mechanism" to exchange information on threats to flights quickly. ¶11. (C) Department of Homeland Security Deputy Director for Asia Pacific Affairs Douglas Palmeri welcomed the proposals, promised to study them carefully and explained how China can participate in the Transportation Security Administration's Transportation Information Sharing System. He cautioned that TSA has limited resources available for training, and that SIPDIS the training is in high demand from other countries' air marshals. To help ensure security during and after the Olympics, he urged China to provide multiple entry visas to U.S. Air Marshals. Otherwise, he said, to streamline visa processing, China should consider accepting a generic visa letter at its Embassy in Washington instead of an individual letter for each marshal. DG Wu promised to find "reasonable solutions" to this problem. Song noted that the United States could likewise facilitate visa issuances for Chinese air marshals by eliminating the interview and fingerprint requirement for marshals who have already been issued visas. ¶12. (U) The delegation has cleared this cable. ¶13. (U) MINIMIZED CONSIDERED. PICCUTA