CORRECTED COPY (PARA 11: NIMITZ) April 1 MFA Press

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001248 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER KOLY CH TW JP KS EK TC NZ SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY (PARA 11: NIMITZ) April 1 MFA Press Briefing: Tibet Protests, Olympics, Hu Japan Visit, Internet Freedom, Secretary Paulson's China Trip, Equatorial Guinea Strike ¶1. Key points at the April 1 MFA Press Briefing were: -- The Dalai Lama continues to incite unrest and undermine the Olympic Games. -- Foreign officials who boycott the Olympic Games are "flattering themselves" and undermining their country's interest. -- China blocks websites which contain illegal material, but will live up to its Olympic obligations. -- President Hu Jintao's Japan trip is still in the planning stages. -- President Hu and Vice Premier Wang Qishan will discuss bilateral relations, SED and other issues with Treasury Secretary Paulson. -- China will send a working group to Equatorial Guinea to deal with the aftermath of a recent labor strike there. Dalai Lama Condemned -------------- ¶2. At the April 1, 2008 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesperson Jiang Yu was asked to respond to the Dalai Lama's recent open letter to the Chinese people. Jiang said that the Dalai Lama was trying to shake off his responsibility for the March 14 riots. Jiang said that though the Dalai Lama says he wants contact with Chinese leaders, he continues to cause unrest and undermine the Olympic Games. Jiang reiterated China's demand that the Dalai Lama stop his violent activities, stop undermining the Olympics and stop his "splittist" activities. When asked to react to the Dalai Lama's planned trip to Japan, Jiang stated that China opposes foreign countries' support of the Dalai Lama. ¶3. When asked when reporters would be allowed to Tibet, Jiang emphasized that China wanted the area to be open as it had been before the March 14 incident, however the "smashing, burning and looting" has made this impossible. Jiang referred questions regarding specific events in Lhasa, the reported deployment of PLA troops to Tibet and evidence described as proving the Dalai Lama's involvement in the March 14 riots to a Ministry of Public Security press conference Jiang said would take place later in the day on April 1. ¶4. In response to a question about a forthcoming Amnesty International report which will cover Tibet, Jiang said the organization was prejudiced against China and that any attempt to threaten China would not succeed. China cannot stop implementing the law because the Olympics are coming, said Jiang. Olympic Fallout of Tibet Events, Olympic Internet Freedom -------------- -------------- ¶5. Jiang emphasized that those foreign officials who choose not to attend the Beijing Olympics would simply be "flattering themselves" and would undermine the interests of their own countries. The Olympics are a sporting event, not a political forum, said Jiang. When asked what had changed since China's boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Jiang said that China has "always been opposed to Olympic boycotts for any reason." Regarding the torch relay, Jiang said that any disruption of Olympic torch events around the world would be a provocation against the Olympic spirit. ¶6. Responding to a question about International Olympic Committee Coordinating Commission Vice Chairman Kevan Gosper's statements that China should not block Internet sites during the Olympic Games, Jiang said that China will follow its commitments during the Games. Jiang said that China manages the Internet to promote its healthy development in a way "similar to many other countries." When pressed repeatedly on whether there would be access to foreign media sites, Jiang said that China blocks some sites which contain illegal information. What constitutes illegal information is stipulated clearly in China's laws, said Jiang. Hu Visit to Japan Still in Planning Stage -------------- ¶7. Jiang refused to confirm Hu Jintao's visit to Japan on May 6 saying the details are still being worked out. Jiang said that China attaches great importance to the trip and hopes the talks will be used to map out an improvement in bilateral relations and ensure long-term, stable and healthy development of ties. When asked whether Hu would stop in the Republic of Korea, Jiang said that China and the ROK are friendly neighbors and that China is willing to continue high level exchanges. Regarding visits between the top leaders of the ROK and China, China will release "relevant information when it becomes available." Paulson Trip to China BEIJING 00001248 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶8. Jiang confirmed that Secretary Paulson will visit China from April 2-3 and discuss bilateral relations, the Strategic Economic Dialogue and other issues with President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Wang Qishan. China and the United States are still finalizing the details of the next round of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, but China hopes that the two countries will work to achieve a mutual win-win and promote a healthy, stable development of trade and the economy. Strike in Equatorial Guinea -------------- ¶9. Jiang said that nearly 100 workers at a Chinese company in Equatorial Guinea disregarded local laws and held a strike. Two Chinese citizens died and four were injured. China has made "solemn representations" to Equatorial Guinea and requested an investigation. Equatorial Guinea has expressed their regret and is ready to work with China to "properly handle the case." A Chinese working group will leave for Equatorial Guinea to deal with the case, said Jiang. Kitty Hawk, Spy Confession, UAE Prime Minister Visit, Bush-Hu Phone Conversation Discrepancy, New Zealand Prime Minister to Visit China -------------- -------------- ¶11. Jiang said that China has approved the Nimitz port call to Hong Kong in early April. Jiang called the repeated accusations of Chinese spying on the United States "totally groundless" and said that such accusations are used to stir up a "China threat theory." China will release information about any deals signed during United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum's visit after the conclusion of his trip. Jiang said she would look into accusations that China's English language and the United States' English language reports of the recent President Bush-Hu phone conversation contained discrepancies. Finally, Jiang announced that New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark will visit China from April 6-8. RANDT