Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING2941
2008-07-30 07:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

CHINESE COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIALS SEEK COOPERATION

Tags:  PTER PREL PGOV KOLY UN PHUM CH PK SYTH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9127
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2941/01 2120740
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 300740Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8865
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6713
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002941 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2028
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KOLY UN PHUM CH PK SYTH
SUBJECT: CHINESE COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIALS SEEK COOPERATION

REF: A. BEIJING 02628

B. BEIJING 01792

C. BEIJING 01159

D. BEIJING 01160

E. BEIJING 01165

F. BEIJING 01166

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002941

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2028
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KOLY UN PHUM CH PK SYTH
SUBJECT: CHINESE COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIALS SEEK COOPERATION

REF: A. BEIJING 02628

B. BEIJING 01792

C. BEIJING 01159

D. BEIJING 01160

E. BEIJING 01165

F. BEIJING 01166

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) In a July 22 meeting with EmbOffs, MFA External
Security Affairs Department Division Director Xia Jingge
asked if the United States could provide additional training
for the Chinese air marshal program. Xia also sought an
update on China's request for access to the FBI's terrorism
database. Xia asked for information about U.S. terrorist
financing concerns and Financial Action Task Force due
diligence requirements related to Chinese links with Iranian
banks. End Summary.

Air Marshal Training
--------------


2. (U) During a July 22 meeting with EmbOffs, Division
Director Xia Jingge of the MFA's Department of External
Security Affairs asked about the possibility of U.S. training
for China's air marshals. (Note: General Administration for
Civil Aviation Air Marshal Command Chief Song Shengli made
the same request to Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Deputy Director for Asia Pacific Affairs Douglas Palmeri
during the March 25 Counterterrorism (CT) Dialogue. See ref

C. Under an April 2006 TSA-CAAC MOU, TSA has already trained
16 Chinese air marshals at TSA facilities. Xia's request
appears to be for additional training. TSA representatives
also received the request for additional training on the
sidelines of the March 25 CT Dialogue. This request was
relayed to TSA's HQ in Washington and is still under
consideration.)


Access to FBI Database
--------------


3. (C) Xia asked for an update on China's request for access
to the FBI's terror suspect databases. (Note: The Chinese
requested this access during the March 25 CT Dialogue and
during a June 17 meeting. In both meetings, U.S. officials
explained the U.S. policy on foreign access to the FBI
database and offered to vet Chinese-supplied names. See refs
C and A.) PolOffs reiterated U.S. policy and offered to vet
names in accordance with existing practice. (Note: The
Ministry of Public Security will be invited to submit lists
of suspected terrorists to the Embassy's interagency Joint
Operations Center (JOC) during the Olympics. Other channels
for submission of suspected terrorist lists have already been
established with the Ministry of State Security.)

Megaports and Taiwan
--------------


4. (C) In discussing the success of the Megaports programs,
Xia asked EmbOffs to understand the sensitivity to China of
Taiwan's involvement in the same program. PolOff explained
that the goal of Megaports is to ensure the safety of
commerce through all ports. Xia suggested that a "dual
track" method under which a U.S. delegation works openly with
China but quietly and perhaps under a different name with
Taiwan as a way to address PRC sensitivities. Such a program
could achieve the same results for both China and Taiwan but
actually be two separate programs, he said.

FATF Meeting with People's Bank of China
--------------


5. (SBU) PolOff told Xia that the Embassy's Financial Attache
and EconOffs would meet with representatives from the
People's Bank of China on July 23 regarding terrorism
financing issues in general and Financial Action Task Force
(FATF) due diligence rules for banking transactions with Iran
in particular. EconOff offered to provide Xia's office with

BEIJING 00002941 002 OF 002


a summary following the meeting (reported septel).

Familiar Complaints about SHAT/ETLO and Rebiya Kadeer
-------------- --------------


6. (C) In response to Xia's request that the United States
support the designation of the East Turkestan Liberation
Organization (ETLO, aka SHAT) as a terrorist organization
under UN Security Council Resolution 1267, PolOff noted that
the United States has not yet received sufficient evidence to
support the terrorist designation. In response to Xia's
complaints about the activities of U.S.-resident Uighur
activist Rebiya Kadeer, PolOff reminded Xia that Kadeer
enjoys freedom of speech in the United States and that China
has not provided evidence that she has violated any U.S. laws.


7. (U) PRC participants:

-- Xia Jingge, Division Director, Department of External
Security Affairs, MFA

-- Wu Shifan, Second Secretary, Department of External
Security Affairs, MFA

-- Bian Ge, Third Secretary, Department of External Security
Affairs, MFA

-- Fan Yong, Third Secretary, Department of External Security
Affairs, MFA
RANDT