Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING2086
2008-05-29 09:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

MAY 29 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS,

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KOLY CH JA KN KS NP IN 
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O 290940Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7610
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 4546
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU IMMEDIATE 3834
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002086 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KOLY CH JA KN KS NP IN
SUBJECT: MAY 29 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS,
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, MILITARY ALLIANCES, ETC.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002086

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KOLY CH JA KN KS NP IN
SUBJECT: MAY 29 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS,
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, MILITARY ALLIANCES, ETC.


1. Key points at the regular May 29 MFA press briefing:

-- Current bilateral negotiations within the framework of the
Six-Party Talks will help build mutual trust and
understanding. Dates have not yet been set for the next
round of the Six-Party Talks, nor for the submission of North
Korea's nuclear declaration. The upcoming Beijing Olympics
will not hinder China's participation in the Six-Party Talks.


-- China is grateful to all countries that provided support
for relief efforts in the wake of the Sichuan earthquake.
The delivery of materials by planes from the Japanese Self
Defense Forces is still being discussed.

-- China is pleased by the successful opening of the recent
Constitutional Assembly in Nepal, but will adhere to the
principle of nonintervention and respect decisions of the
Nepalese people.

-- The U.S.-ROK military alliance is left over from history,
as is the U.S.-Japanese military alliance. China is in favor
of a "new security concept" in which countries seek to build
peace within the framework of the United Nations and in
keeping with international norms. The Sino-DPRK treaty of
mutual assistance, however, is a means of building friendly
relations between the two nations.

-- Allegations that Chinese citizens are involved in
espionage are groundless and stem from ulterior motives.

-- China has taken note of actress Sharon Stone's comments
that the Sichuan earthquake was caused by "bad karma" owing
to the Chinese occupation of Tibet. China has also taken
note of her subsequent apology.

-- VISITS: Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will
visit China June 4-7. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
is currently visiting China, and will travel to Qingdao today
and to Sichuan tomorrow, accompanied by Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi.

Six-Party Talks
--------------


2. At the regularly-scheduled MFA press briefing May 29, MFA
Spokesperson Qin Gang said that the Six-Party negotiators
began holding bilateral talks yesterday in Beijing, and the
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister met with his American, North

Korean and Japanese counterparts. He will meet his South
Korean counterpart tomorrow. No date has yet been set for
the next round of the Six-Party Talks. Qin expressed hope
that this round of bilateral negotiations will help to build
mutual understanding and speed the second-phase of the
agreement. He said that all countries involved in the
Six-Party Talks have worked hard to realize the goal of
denuclearizing the Korean peninsula. A date for the
submission of North Korea's nuclear declaration has not yet
been set, he said. China does not plan to stop work on the
Six-Party Talks because of the Olympics. Asked if U.S.
Presidential Elections or a change in administration would
stop the Six-Party Talks, Qin said that the question should
not be directed to him. However, he expressed hope that
progress can be made if all countries involved continue to
work towards denuclearization.

Japanese Military for Relief Delivery
--------------


3. Asked about military planes from the Japanese Self-Defense
Force being used to deliver aid to Sichuan earthquake
victims, Qin said that China is grateful for the many
countries that have offered material, financial and spiritual
support. Some countries have used military planes to speed
the delivery of urgently needed goods and some militaries
have provided tents and blankets. When asked for
clarification as to whether Japan has or will provide aid via
military planes, the spokesperson said that China welcomes
aid from all countries, but that aid provided via the
military must be "further discussed" through the relevant
countries' Departments of Defense. Japan's contribution is
pending such further discussion. When asked why the Chinese
media were not covering the story, Qin said that what the
Chinese media cover is up to the Chinese media. Regarding
the use of planes from the Japanese Self Defense Force, Qin
said that the means of receiving aid would depend on the
needs of the recipient country. Asked if opposition to the
use of Japanese military planes by Chinese Internet users

BEIJING 00002086 002 OF 003


indicated that China is not welcoming of Japanese aid, Qin
reiterated that China is thankful to the people and
governments who have offered aid, sympathy and support,
including Japan.

Nepal's Constitutional Assembly
--------------


4. Asked about the recent opening of Nepal's Constitutional
Assembly, the spokesperson said that China is glad to see the
successful opening of the Assembly. As a friend and
neighbor, China hopes for progress but will adhere to the
policy of noninterference and will respect the Nepalese
people's choices regarding development methods and political
systems.

No More "Cold War Mentality"
--------------


5. At the last regular press conference on May 27, Qin said
that the U.S.-ROK military alliance represented a "cold war
mentality." Asked a follow-up question regarding the
China-DPRK military alliance, Qin noted that his statements
had drawn attention from the Korean press. Qin said that
China is in favor of a "new security concept," and that
relevant countries must work to build cooperation and trust.
The U.S.-ROK arrangement is a "special historical alliance."
Countries should seek to make arrangements within the
framework of the United Nations and international norms to
support peace. Qin said that the Sino-DPRK treaty of mutual
assistance was a means of promoting friendly relations
between the two countries, and that in the past few years the
treaty had been helpful to this goal. He noted that China
wants friendly relations with both the DPRK and the ROK, and
is in favor of peace and stability in the region. When asked
if his remarks "remain logical" when considering the
U.S.-Japanese military alliance, Qin said that this
arrangement is also "left over from history." Qin expressed
hope that the arrangement be favorable for regional stability
and the building of mutual trust.

Espionage Allegations Groundless
--------------


6. Asked for comment on the Chinese citizen who recently
pleaded guilty to espionage charges in the United States, Qin
said that any such allegations of espionage are groundless
and stem from ulterior motives.

Sharon Stone's Comments
--------------


7. China has taken note of actress Sharon Stone's remarks
that the earthquake was a result of "bad karma" caused by
Chinese occupation of Tibet. Qin further noted that Ms.
Stone has apologized for her remarks. Qin expressed hope
that the Chinese Government and people's relief efforts can
be fully understood by the international community, and that
as an actress Ms. Stone can use her position to contribute to
mutual trust and understanding between China and the United
States.

Premier Wen on Facebook?
--------------


8. Asked for comment on Premier Wen Jiabao's page on the
social networking website Facebook, and the more than 13,000
people who have "friended" him, the Spokesperson said that he
had not heard of Facebook. However, he speculated that the
webpage in question had perhaps been created in response to
China's earthquake relief efforts, and expressed hope that
the international community will see the unified efforts of
the Chinese people and have a better understanding of China.

Other Topics: Tibet Visit for Journalists, Rumors
-------------- --------------


9. Asked if foreign journalists would be given permission to
visit Tibet to cover the Olympic Torch Relay, the
spokesperson said he would convey the request to BOCOG.
Regarding rumors that an unnamed Chinese leader had told the
South Korean press that Kim Jong-il had been assassinated,
Qin said that he had not heard of it and could not confirm
it. He urged the journalists present to use the press
conference for "more serious matters."


10. VISITORS: Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will
visit China June 4-7. During the visit, Mukherjee's first to

BEIJING 00002086 003 OF 003


China since taking office, he will meet with Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi and other Chinese leaders, and will
visit both Beijing and Guangzhou to oversee the opening of
the Indian Consulate General there. During the visit, both
sides will discuss the implementation of the consensus on
developing strategic cooperation, and exchange views on
bilateral relations. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is
currently visiting China and will travel to Qingdao today
before moving on to Sichuan province tomorrow. Chinese
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will accompany President Lee to
Sichuan.
PICCUTA