PRC: "NO PROBLEM" WITH CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT INPUT;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 002761 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP- KEVIN SHEIVES E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ASEAN CH SUBJECT: PRC: "NO PROBLEM" WITH CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT INPUT; WILL NOT DUPLICATE ARF DISASTER RELIEF SYSTEM REF: A. STATE 74383 (NOTAL) ¶B. EAP-EMBASSY 07/15 EMAIL Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA Asia Department Asian Multilateral Security Division Director Ma Jia told PolOff July 16 that from the MFA perspective, China has "no problem" with the substance of points (ref A) the USG would like included in a regional disaster preparedness section of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Chairman's Statement for the July 24 ARF Ministerial Meeting in Singapore. She noted, however, that discussions with her counterparts in the Ministry of Civil Affairs have been limited because they are still occupied with Sichuan earthquake relief efforts. She also pointed out a "technical problem," saying that Chairman's statements usually reflect consensus and general principles and not the level of detail contained in the U.S. non-paper. ¶2. (C) Director Ma said that in consultations with Singapore Government counterparts, she has learned that Singapore wishes to include the following three principles in its Chairman's Statement: -- It is the responsibility of disaster-hit countries to quickly and effectively bring humanitarian relief to people in their territories. -- Where necessary, they should facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid from other countries and international organizations. -- Any external help shall have the consent of the affected countries, and it should come under their overall control and supervision. ¶3. (C) Drawing on points in ref B, PolOff noted U.S. concern about the outcome of a recent PRC Ministry of National Defense-hosted ASEAN-plus-three workshop on Armed Forces and Disaster Relief, pointing out that discussions of standard operating procedures and Standby Arrangement Systems for Disaster Relief within the ASEAN-plus-three context would seem to duplicate similar initiatives in ARF. Ma replied that the workshop "was just a seminar" for discussion of possible coordinative disaster relief measures among ASEAN-plus-three members given the difficulty achieving consensus in ARF. Pressed on the appearance of creating duplicative disaster relief systems in ASEAN plus three, Director Ma said "we won't do that," adding ARF is much further along on this issue than ASEAN plus three, and therefore it is unclear what measures ASEAN plus three could implement that are not already addressed by ARF. RANDT