MFA DG TALKS TAIWAN, NEAPSM, DALAI LAMA WITH EAP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 001815

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2033
TAGS: PREL PARM PHUM KOLY CH TW IR KN
SUBJECT: MFA DG TALKS TAIWAN, NEAPSM, DALAI LAMA WITH EAP
DAS CHRISTENSEN

REF: BEIJING 1799

Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

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


1. (C) In a wide-ranging discussion with visiting EAP DAS
Thomas Christensen May 10, MFA North American and Oceanian
Affairs Director General Zheng Zeguang emphasized the
importance President Hu places on his relationship with
President Bush and China's willingness to work cooperatively
with the United States on international and regional issues.
He specifically praised President's Bush's statement that the
Olympic Games should not be politicized. He noted that the
dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives would continue
at an uncertain future date, but disagreed with the
suggestion that the Dalai Lama has met the preconditions for
direct dialogue (opposing Tibetan independence, renouncing
violence, and supporting a successful Olympics). He asserted
that the "entire Chinese nation" is united on the issue of
Tibet. Zheng requested that the United States give the
Mainland and Taiwan time and space to work out their
differences and not to disrupt the positive environment by
announcing new arms sales. Zheng pledged that China would be
helpful on the Six Party process and was supportive of
discussions on the Northeast Asia Peace and Security
Mechanism. Zheng's discussion with DAS Christensen on Burma
is reported reftel. End Summary

High Level Contacts
--------------


2. (C) Over a working lunch with East Asia and Pacific
Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) Thomas Christensen
on May 10, MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs Director
General Zheng Zeguang commented that President Hu very much
values his ties to President Bush. Although he was not able
to take the President's phone call during his state visit to
Japan, he immediately ordered Foreign Minister Yang to get on
the phone with Secretary Rice. After President Hu returns to
Beijing May 11, the two sides can arrange for a call. Zheng
said he will accompany Vice Premier Wang Qishan on his visit
to the United States in June for the Strategic Economic
Dialogue with Treasury Secretary Paulson. He noted that Wang
and Paulson should get along very well and that they had
previously met when Wang was serving as the Executive Vice
Governor of Guangdong Province. In that position, Wang had
presided over China's first bankruptcy proceeding for a
state-owned enterprise. Zheng said he had also accompanied
current vice president Xi Jinping to the United States in
2006 when Xi was still Party Secretary for Zhejiang Province.
He remarked that the U.S. Government must have had very good
intelligence, implying that Washington knew Xi was destined
for high office, because the arrangements and treatment Xi
received were outstanding. Zheng said he looks forward to a
productive exchange between Xi and Deputy Secretary
Negroponte.

Olympics
--------------


3. (C) Zheng Zeguang praised President Bush for his statement
that the Olympic Games should not be politicized and said
that the Chinese public "got the message." His plans to come
to China for the Olympics and attend the opening ceremony
contrast with those of some European leaders. Zheng called
CNN commentator Jack Cafferty "worse than an idiot" and
wondered whether "some Chinese had killed his parents" to
make him insult the Chinese people as he did. He noted that
many heads of state and government (Note: by some accounts
more than 150) will be coming, and, even though they were
invited by their respective Olympic committees, it will be a
big task for the MFA. DAS Christensen responded that the
U.S. Government has the right approach on the Olympic Games.
President Bush is determined not to politicize the Olympics.
President Bush has said he is coming for the early part of
the Olympics and Secretary Rice will come for the end. Our
position has been that for the Olympics to be truly
successful, China would need to put its best face forward.
China should take seriously and make progress on some of the
issues raised by groups calling on the United States and
others to boycott the Olympics. In this light, he expressed
hope for a productive bilateral human rights dialogue in late
May.


4. (C) Zheng said China is prepared to strengthen Olympic

BEIJING 00001815 002 OF 004


security cooperation with the United States. The Ministry of
Public Security is ready to sign an MOU on Olympic security
cooperation with the United States, and is hopeful remaining
details can be ironed out soon. Chinese officials are
looking forward to discussing security cooperation with
Assistant to the President Ken Wainstein when he visits
Beijing May 12-15, Zheng said.

Dealing with the Dalai Lama
--------------


5. (C) DAS Christensen assessed that the dialogue with the
Dalai Lama's personal representatives was constructive and
yielded good discussion. The U.S. approach on the Tibet
issue is consistent with the President's wish for China to
have a successful Olympics. He urged China to take U.S.
advice on Tibet in that spirit. He asked if China had set a
date for the next round of dialogue. Zeng responded that
China had agreed to further dialogue but he did not know when
it would take place.


6. (C) On the Dalai Lama, the U.S. position is clear as is
the Chinese position, Zheng explained. He wanted to make
sure, however, that the United States has the "correct
understanding" of what China has done, is doing, and will do.
The Chinese government has taken steps to quell the unrest
so that prosperity can continue. The Dalai Lama, however,
has still not condemned the violent rioters of March 14.
While acknowledging that the Dalai Lama is viewed as a
religious figure, Zheng averred that he is "not so simple and
has two faces." On the one hand he is a religious figure
preaching peace and non-violence, but on the other hand he is
the leader of the exile government in Dharamsala. That
organization has a constitution calling for the establishment
of an independent Tibetan Federal Republic. The Tibetan
Youth Congress is also part of the exile movement and has a
tendency toward terrorism and violence. It must be accepted
that the Dalai Lama is an active political figure, Zheng
remarked.


7. (C) Zheng asserted that China favors peaceful settlement
of any disputes. Since 2002, China has conducted six rounds
of dialogue with the Dalai Lama's personal representatives.
Hu Jintao told President Bush that China would take a
serious, sober, and sincere approach to the issue. The Dalai
Lama should stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop
instigating and organizing violent activities, and stop
sabotaging the Beijing Olympics. On this issue the entire
Chinese nation, including overseas Chinese, is united.


8. (C) DAS Christensen responded that the United States does
not see the exile Tibetan community as monolithic the way
China does. The situation is much more complicated. DAS
Christensen contended that the Dalai Lama has met all three
Chinese preconditions for dialogue. The Dalai Lama has made
clear that he does not support Tibetan independence, but
rather true autonomy within the bounds of the PRC
constitution. He has specifically condemned the violence
that erupted in mid-March and threatened to step down if the
violence did not end. In addition, he has spoken out in
support of the Beijing Olympics. There are indeed elements
in the Tibetan exile community that support violence, which
is why China should engage with the Dalai Lama. As Secretary
Rice told special envoy Li Zhaoxing, having dialogue with the
Dalai Lama is a sign of strength befitting a great power.
Isolating and vilifying him is a sign of weakness. For
example, China should avoid the term "clique," which sounds
like a vestige of Cold War propaganda.


9. (C) Zheng countered that the Dalai Lama has not
specifically condemned those who instigated the violence on
March 14 nor the protester who attacked the wheelchair
athlete in Paris. His condemnation of violence is just empty
rhetoric. Zheng said that this is a "real" issue not only
for the Chinese Government but also for the Chinese people
and said that anyone who thinks the Chinese Government does
not have to deal with popular opinion is wrong. He urged
Washington to be sophisticated in dealing with the Dalai Lama.


10. (C) Despite Chinese criticism of distorted reporting, DAS
Christensen said that some of the most accurate and balanced
reporting on the rioting came from an Economist correspondent
and a Washington Post reporter who just happened to be in
Lhasa when the violence erupted. He noted that these reports
have not received coverage in Chinese media. Since then,
much reporting has been based on hearsay or unreliable
accounts from uninformed bystanders. The United States has
pushed hard for reporters and diplomats to have access into

BEIJING 00001815 003 OF 004


Tibetan areas so that we would have a more complete picture
of what is happening there. Zheng expressed interest in
receiving copies of the press articles mentioned, but said
Tibet is closed out of concern for the safety of foreigners.
Domestic tourism restarted on May 1 and the region should
reopen to foreigners soon.

Taiwan
--------------


11. (C) Zheng said the Mainland is eager to engage Taiwan and
Hu Jintao has already held two meetings with Vice
President-elect Vincent Siew and KMT Honorary Chairman Lien
Chan. He recited Hu Jintao's "16 character phrase" that will
serve as a guide for cross-Strait relations: "build mutual
trust, set aside disputes, seek common ground while reserving
differences, and together create win-win solutions." This
approach supports the general goal of peaceful development.
There are still forces in Taiwan who resist this trend, so he
urged the United States to maintain its one China policy
based on the three joint communiques. Washington should
continue to oppose Taiwan independence and not support
Taiwan's participation in international organizations that
require statehood as a prerequisite. He asserted that the
Taiwan issue is still the most sensitive issue in U.S.-China
relations.


12. (C) Zheng said that there is good momentum in
cross-Strait relations. He said he hopes that the United
States will act constructively to provide a framework and a
positive environment for that momentum to continue. China
highly appreciates the U.S. stand against the UN referendum,
which substantially increased trust between the two
countries. He said China appreciates President Bush's policy
and specifically acknowledged DAS Christensen's role in this
process.


13. (C) DAS Christensen replied that the United States is
encouraged by the developments in cross-Strait relations and
that the Bo'ao meeting was a terrific idea and showed China
at its confident best. The United States indeed supports
efforts to improve cross-Strait relations. Support for
independence on the island has not gone away, so during Ma's
first term in office it will be very important to show that a
moderate position produces practical, positive results. If
that fails, the mood could swing back the other way. Taiwan
needs to deal with the Mainland from a position of strength
and confidence. Whatever the two sides agree to that is
acceptable to both sides, the United States will support.


14. (C) DAS Christensen noted that international space is
important to Taiwan and the United States supports Taiwan's
meaningful participation in international organizations even
when membership is impossible. The timing of the WHA meeting
this year makes progress on that issue unlikely this time
around, but the United States would like to see progress on
Taiwan's participation in the WHO at the next opportunity.
The Mainland should be open to allowing increased
international space for Taiwan because Ma will propose
acceptable nomenclature and will not use participation to
push for independence. If he fails to gain more
international space for Taiwan, after four years it may be
hard to convince the Taiwan people that taking a moderate
position improved Taiwan's standing in the world.


15. (C) Zheng chided DAS Christensen for being "so
pessimistic," noting that formal negotiations will start soon
on the basis of the 1992 consensus and will include
discussion on international space for Taiwan. He said that
the United States should trust the intelligence, creativity
and wisdom of the Chinese. If the two sides are allowed to
discuss issues free from external intervention, it will be
easier to work things out. He requested that the United
States give the two sides time to work out their problems.
He said that Chen Shui-bian may take "mischievous actions" in
the still-sensitive period before May 20. He urged the
United States to not send any officials to Ma Ying-jeou's
inauguration and not to announce any arms sales to Taiwan,
which could be read as support for Taiwan independence. If
the United States announces new arms sales, it will
immediately impact the cross-Strait situation and "cause a
setback to the current period of relaxation."


16. (C) DAS Christensen responded that our policy will not
change and reminded Zheng that the Taiwan Relations Act is
part of our one China policy. No one in Taiwan interprets
U.S. arms sales as supporting Taiwan independence. Taiwan
will best be able to deal with the Mainland from a position

BEIJING 00001815 004 OF 004


of strength and the United States has a legal obligation to
assess Taiwan's defensive needs and provide defense articles
where appropriate.

Six-Party Talks/NEAPSM
--------------


17. (C) DAS Christensen urged China to press North Korea to
fulfill its commitment to prepare a complete and correct
declaration. This is not a purely U.S.-DPRK bilateral issue,
he stressed to Zheng, but a matter of importance to Beijing
as well. Once the DPRK satisfies its commitment, the Six
Parties can begin discussion of Phase III and a Northeast
Asia Peace and Security Mechanism (NEAPSM),which will
further peace and stability in the region.


18. (C) DG Zheng said China wants to be helpful in this
regard and shares a long-term strategic vision of the Korean
Peninsula with the United States. China will work closely
with all of the parties to ensure denuclearization takes
place. Beijing is ready to engage in dialogue with the
United States on an architectural framework for the region,
he said, noting his agreement that the Six-Party Talks
process has been good for regional peace and U.S.-China
bilateral relations in general.

Iran
--------------


19. (C) DAS Christensen expressed to DG Zheng continued U.S.
concern over energy deals and conventional arms sales with
Iran. The United States hopes China is ending arms sales to
Iran as it suggested it would. Pointing to the present
crisis in Lebanon, he told Zheng that Iran exports
instability to the region, and its promises to Beijing not to
re-export Chinese weapons cannot be trusted. Chinese weapons
threatening American forces and allies in the region will
affect U.S.-China bilateral relations, he stated.


20. (C) Zheng assured DAS Christensen that China's intent is
not to have conventional weapons sales become an "irritant"
in bilateral relations. China wants peace and stability in
the Middle East and has stopped its arms trade with "unstable
countries." Beijing believes that Washington's closing the
door to negotiations with Iran is not sustainable. Beijing
instead favors a "carrots and sticks" approach, which is why
Beijing supports a new incentive package for Iran. If the
United States has evidence of Chinese weapons finding their
way into the hands of Iranian-supported militant groups,
Washington should share this information with China. DAS
Christensen assured Zheng that evidence has been provided to
senior PRC officials both in Beijing and Washington.

Visa Issue
--------------


21. (C) DAS Christensen raised the visa case of U.S. academic
Justin Ruddelson, who is apparently being denied a visa
because he contributed a chapter to a book on Xinjiang. DAS
Christensen stressed that Ruddelson is not hostile to China,
his contribution to the book was not offensive, and that he
plans to lead a group of U.S. students for language study
that is sponsored by the National Committee on U.S.-China
relations, an organization that has long played a positive
role in U.S.-China relations. The blocking of U.S.
academics, many of whom have devoted their lives to studying
China, is a poor policy and will only end up hurting China's
image in the United States and reducing American
understanding of China. Without hesitation, Zheng said he
would look into the matter.


22. (U) DAS Christensen has cleared this cable.
RANDT