CHINA URGED TO TERMINATE CONVENTIONAL ARMS

S E C R E T BEIJING 001882


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL CH IR

SUBJECT: CHINA URGED TO TERMINATE CONVENTIONAL ARMS
TRANSFERS TO IRAN

REF: STATE 50524

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


1. (S/NF) Beijing should take immediate action to terminate
all weapons-related transfers to Iran and should insist that
Tehran provide an accounting of all Chinese-origin weapons,
PolOff urged in a discussion with MFA Arms Control and
Disarmament Department Deputy Director Wang Daxue on May 15.
PolOff shared with Wang two photographs of Chinese QW-1
MANPADS missiles seized in Basra, Iraq in April 2008.


2. (S/NF) Wang said he had received a copy of the photographs
from the Chinese Embassy in Washington. China understands
U.S. concerns and takes this issue seriously, he said. In
response to U.S. and international concerns over the export
of MANPADS, China tightened its export controls of these
weapons. As Beijing has expressed to the United States in
the past, Chinese cooperation with Iran is "limited" and
accords with UN Security Council Resolution 1747, as well as
with Chinese export control laws and regulations. UNSCR 1747
does not mandate an arms embargo on Iran, he said. China has
requested that Iran not re-export Chinese-origin weapons to
other countries or non-state actors. This request was
recently repeated to Iranian authorities, who reiterated
Tehran's "commitment" not to carry out such transfers, Wang
stated.


3. (S/NF) Because Iran is an active state sponsor of
terrorism and an irresponsible purchaser of military
equipment, POLOFF said, Iranian end-use certificates and
promises not to retransfer weapons to third-parties cannot be
trusted. POLOFF again urged China to terminate all
weapons-related transfers and technical assistance to Iran.
RANDT


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