JULY 15 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SUDAN AND INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002753 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KOLY PHUM KS KN JP RS SU SUBJECT: JULY 15 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SUDAN AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, XINJIANG AND TIBET, OLYMIC SECURITY, MEDIA FREEDOM ¶1. Key points at the July 15 afternoon MFA press briefing were: -- China is "gravely concerned" over the charges filed in the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir. -- China is in consultations with other nations regarding a potential U.N. resolution protesting the ICC's actions. -- Asked to comment on President Bush's recent comments on Tibet and Xinjiang, the spokesman said that "relevant countries" should stop interfering in China's internal affairs. -- The spokesman did not have statistics on how many world leaders would be attending the Beijing Olympics. -- The spokesman said that he "fully understood" the difficulties foreign journalists were facing in reporting from Beijing and would forward complaints on to relevant authorities. -- China repatriates North Korean refugees in accordance with domestic and international law as well as the spirit of humanitarianism. Charges against Sudan President -------------- ¶2. At the July 15 regular press conference, spokesman Liu Jianchao expressed China's "grave concern" over the filing of criminal charges against Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC should be a force for "stability" in the region, said Liu. Asked whether China would protest the charges at the United Nations, Liu responded that China was in consultation with other countries and it is too early to speculate as to the outcome of those discussions. Liu said reports indicating the Sudanese government could no longer guarantee the safety of peacekeepers should be further confirmed, pointing to the multiple occasions when Sudan has said it will do its utmost to protect peacekeepers. The final contingent of Chinese military engineers will depart from Zhengzhou for Sudan on July 16. China will maintain normal relations with Sudan, but Liu did not know whether or not Omar al-Bashir will attend the Beijing Olympics. When asked, Liu said that a BBC report that China is breaking the arms embargo on Sudan is "incorrect." Liu said that the BBC likely has ulterior motives and China has never broken a resolution of the Security Council. Xinjiang and Tibet -------------- ¶3. China will not brook any threats to its security, said Liu in response to a question regarding President Bush's comments regarding the Dalai Lama and the Xinjiang region. China hopes that "relevant countries" will stop using "relevant issues" to interfere in China's internal affairs. China is a country of law which protects its citizens' freedoms including religious freedom, said Liu. Liu had no information on reports that two Uighurs were put to death in China. Olympics Security -------------- ¶4. The security threat to the Olympics is coming from many different sources, but China is doing its best to ensure the safety of Olympic spectators and athletes, said Liu. Liu did not have the statistics on how many foreign leaders would attend the Olympics but suggested that it was in the dozens. Regarding reports that Beijing tourism is suffering due to increased visa restrictions, Liu said that he was not a tourism official, but connecting China's visa policy with the level of tourism was "not correct." Freedom of Speech in Beijing -------------- ¶5. Asked whether China would create a "free speech corner" for citizens to air their complaints, Liu said that China has laws governing demonstrations and that they should be abided by. In response to a complaint from an Al-Jazeera journalist regarding "very rude" security personnel and the difficulty reporting in Beijing due to tight security, Liu said that he "fully understood" the concerns and would forward them on to the relevant authorities. North Korea Refugee Repatriation -------------- ¶6. Asked about criticism of China's policy of repatriating North Korean refugees, Liu said that China is a "victim" of illegal border crossing from North Korea and that China follows domestic and international laws as well as the spirit of humanitarianism in its repatriation of North Koreans. ASEAN Regional Forum BEIJING 00002753 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶7. Liu was unsure whether VFM Wu Dawei would attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to be held this month in Singapore. China attaches great importance to the ARF and will send a senior official. As to whether a Six-Party Talks head of delegation meeting would take place at the ARF, Liu said that the previous round of Six-Party Talks had reached a consensus on holding a ministerial conference, but the date and place are yet to be determined. Liu said that the ARF should not be used as a platform to discuss domestic issues such as China's Tibet and Xinjiang regions. Ma Ying-jeou International Visits -------------- ¶8. China objects to the United States conducting exchanges with Taiwan officials, said Liu in response to a question about a possible trip by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to the United States. The One China Policy should not change, added Liu. China-Japan Human Rights Dialogue -------------- ¶9. The China-Japan Human Rights Dialogue will be conducted on the basis of equality and mutual respect, said Liu. In response to the same question, Liu said that China does not restrict the movements of victims of leprosy or their relations. China does not, however, allow foreigners suffering from leprosy to enter China. Taiwan Citizens Missing in Madagascar -------------- ¶10. The Chinese Embassies in Madagascar and Mauritius both actively assisted in the search for missing Mainland and Taiwan citizens after a July 11 fishing accident. Liu said that accusations by some Taiwan politicians that the China was using the incident for propaganda were "unfair" and due to "political motives." Russian Foreign Minister China Visit -------------- ¶11. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit China from July 21 - 22. Lavrov will meet with Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Yang Jiechi and will exchange views on the Russia-China border and issues of mutual concern, said Liu. RANDT