CHINA CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY FOR SAN FRANCISCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001164

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/P/MECU (FOR JOHN HURLEY),DS/DSS/DO (FOR EDGAR
MORENO),DS/FLD/SFFO (FOR JOSEPH PATRICK DURKIN),
DS/DSS/OSAC (FOR CHRIS MEDEIROS),DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA,
DS/DO/P (FOR NANCY ROLPH),DS/ICI/CI, EAP/CM, S/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2033
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KOLY ASEC CH
SUBJECT: CHINA CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY FOR SAN FRANCISCO
TORCH RELAY AND "ANTI-CHINA" CONGRESSIONAL SENTIMENT

REF: SECSTATE 1146

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs, a.i. Daniel Piccuta. Reasons 1.4 (b/d
).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) China is "gravely concerned" about security for the
April 9 San Francisco Torch Relay participants and their
charter plane, said MFA Director General Zheng Zeguang,
during a March 26 meeting with the Charge. China expects
"anti-China forces" to step up their efforts to sabotage the
event and asked for USG help in ensuring a "smooth" relay.
On a separate note, Zheng hopes the Administration will "use
its influence" and urge Congress to refrain from issuing
anti-China resolutions. The public response in China to such
statements could be detrimental to the bilateral
relationship, Zheng warned. End Summary.

San Francisco Torch Relay
--------------

2.(C) China is "gravely concerned" about security for the
April 8-9 San Francisco Torch Relay event, said MFA Director
General of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department
Zheng Zeguang, during a March 26 meeting with the Charge.
Following the violence in Tibet, China expected supporters of
the Dalai Lama, East Turkestan, Falun Gong and "other
anti-China forces" to step up their efforts to sabotage the
relay event, stated Zheng. The recent attacks against PRC
diplomatic missions, including the attempted arson at the PRC
Consulate General in San Francisco, demonstrate that "Dalai
Lama followers" will go the "extra mile" to disrupt this
upcoming event, he noted. The PRC Consul General in San
Francisco has raised security concerns with U.S. federal and
local law enforcement agencies, Zheng said.


3. (C) Zheng urged the Charge to convey China's "high degree
of concern" regarding the relay's security arrangements to
Washington and asked for USG help in ensuring a "smooth"
Torch Relay for Chinese and American participants. Zheng
also expressed concern regarding security for the PRC's
charter aircraft at the airport. (Note: AFM Liu Jieyi
conveyed similar points to the U.S. Ambassador at Large for
Counterterrorism Dell Dailey on March 26. (See septel) End
Note.)


4. (C) The Charge said that the United States is prepared to
do our best to protect the relay participants as well as the
PRC's charter plane. Zheng added that China appreciates
President Bush's comments opposing the politicization of the
Olympics and looks forward to his participation.

"Anti-China" Congressional Resolutions
--------------


5. (C) On a separate note, Zheng said he had heard rumors
that the U.S. Congress might put forward "anti-China"
resolutions or statements and hold hearings on Tibet and
other issues. The United States should focus on the facts,
he said, instead of the information "disseminated by the
Dalai clique." Foreign journalists are currently in Lhasa,
reported Zheng. The violence in Tibet is not an issue of
human rights, Zheng emphasized, but a criminal issue. The
United States should focus on the positive momentum of the
bilateral relationship and make statements "consistent with
the facts," he said. Zheng hopes the Administration will use
its influence and urge Congress to refrain from issuing
"anti-China" resolutions. The public response in China to
such resolutions could be "detrimental" to the bilateral
relationship, Zheng warned.


6. (C) The Charge noted Zheng's concerns and said he would
pass the Chinese message to Washington.
PICCUTA