JUNE 3 MFA Press Briefing: Human Rights, Sichuan

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002143 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR EAID IN JN KS KN CH SUBJECT: JUNE 3 MFA Press Briefing: Human Rights, Sichuan Earthquake, Japanese Destroyer's Port Call, FM Yang Travel to Europe, Indian FM Visit to Beijing ¶1. Key points at the June 3 MFA Press Briefing: -- China believes there is a "new opportunity" in the Six-Party Talks and hopes the relevant parties will show "flexibility" in overcoming differences. -- The U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue was "candid," "positive" and "constructive," helping the two countries promote "mutual respect" and "equality." -- China is grateful for foreign assistance to victims of the Sichuan Earthquake and hopes the international community will donate more tents. -- China and Japan are discussing the possibility of delivering earthquake relief supplies via Japanese military aircraft but have made no decision. -- The Japanese destroyer Takanami will make a port call to China in the latter half of June, marking the first visit to China of a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force vessel. -- FM Yang departs on June 7 for a trip to Spain, Italy, Slovenia and France, during which he will attend an EU ministerial meeting and an international conference on Afghanistan. -- Indian FM Mukherjee will visit China from June 6-9 to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the Sino-Indian boundary dispute. Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶2. At the June 3 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang said VFM Wu Dawei had met and exchanged views on the Six Party Talks with the U.S., DPRK, ROK and Japanese representatives, as well as with the Russian Ambassador to China. VFM Wu encouraged parties to implement the second phase in a "comprehensive" and "balanced" way. Parties have had bilateral contacts, reached a consensus and shown the political will to advance and implement their commitments. There is now a "new opportunity" and China hopes parties will show "flexibility" in overcoming differences, move ahead with talks and produce positive results. Remaining differences include energy cooperation, normalization of relations between "relevant countries" and a possible Northeast Asia Peace and Security Mechanism. These issues will take time to resolve and the parties should continue in the meantime to enhance coordination, cooperation and mutual trust while "marching" toward Korean denuclearization. China will continue to play a positive role in the talks, stated Qin. Human Rights -------------- ¶3. Qin said China has long maintained that discussion of human rights issues should be conducted with mutual understanding and avoid the "double standard" of using the "pretense of human rights" to interfere with China's internal affairs. China has been making efforts to increase "ecosystem development" and raise living standards and has made great achievements. China will not make its decisions based on the will of another country or organization, he said. China's policies are "consistent" and follow the principle of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Qin called the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue "candid," "positive" and "constructive." Both sides elaborated on progress in the field of human rights and discussed freedom of speech as well. He said the dialogue helped the two countries promote "mutual respect" and "equality." Sichuan Earthquake -------------- ¶4. Qin said China hopes the international community would donate more tents to China in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake. He thanked other nations, especially Japan, for donating tents over the past few weeks. Qin reported that foreign countries have given 251,000 tents to China, and most have now been delivered to the affected area. Other donations will be delivered soon, he said. Referring to questions about more restrictive access for journalists, Qin said that since the earthquake, China has facilitated open news coverage. He said the principle of transparency must be implemented "according to local conditions" and in accord with the needs of localities. Local authorities are not trying to "block the news" or "make difficulties," he said. BEIJING 00002143 002 OF 002 Disaster Assistance in Japanese Military Aircraft -------------- -------------- ¶5. Asked whether the Japanese Government will deliver more aid in civilian or military aircraft, Qin said the two parties were still consulting and had not yet made a specific decision. The "friendly affection" and people-to-people interaction between China and Japan are indications of a new phase in the Sino-Japanese relationship, as underscored during President Hu Jintao's recent visit to Japan, Qin said. Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Ship Visit -------------- ¶6. The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JDS Takanami will make a port visit to China in the latter half of June, stated Qin. The Takanami will be the first JMSDF ship visit to China. The visit reciprocates the visit of the PLA Navy destroyer Shenzhen to Japan in November 2007. Upcoming Tiananmen Anniversary -------------- ¶7. Regarding the upcoming 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, Qin said the events at Tiananmen were a "political incident" that occurred at the end of the 1980s and which relates to China's internal affairs. He declined to comment further. FM Yang to Travel to Spain, Italy, Slovenia, France -------------- -------------- ¶8. Qin said Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will depart for Spain on June 7. While in Madrid, Yang is scheduled to meet the Spanish Foreign Minister, Prime Minister and King Juan Carlos II. FM Yang also plans to travel to Italy and to attend a European Union ministerial meeting in Slovenia. FM Yang will also attend the international conference on Afghanistan in Paris on June 12. Indian FM to Visit China June 6-9; Boundary Dispute -------------- -------------- ¶9. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will make his first visit to China June 6-9. FM Mukherjee is slated to meet Premier Wen Jiabao, FM Yang and other Chinese leaders. Indian Prime Minister Singh's recent visit to China was "successful," noted Qin, and the two countries reached a consensus on expanding cooperative exchanges, on not regarding each other as "threats" and on working toward peace and stability in the region. The Sino-Indian border issue will likely be discussed, Qin said, but China and India have a special mechanism for discussion of the border issue and progress has been made in recent years. There have been eleven rounds of border talks and the two countries have agreed on guiding principles for negotiations. The two sides are now discussing a framework for resolution. In the mean time, China will make efforts to maintain "tranquility" and "stability" in the border region and push for the "sound development" of Sino-Indian ties. China-Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers Meeting -------------- -------------- ¶10. Qin said that the upcoming meeting of Chinese, Japanese and South Korean Foreign Ministers is a "regular exchange mechanism" and the three ministers will discuss issues of great importance to peace, stability and development in the region. China hopes the meeting will promote trilateral cooperation and "generate good results." PICCUTA