BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: SITUATION REPORT #1,

S E C R E T BEIJING 002985 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT, FOR, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/DO, DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/P/MECU, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/DO/P, DS/ICI/CI, DS/T/ATA, DS/TIA, DS/TIA/PII, DS/CC, EAP/CM, S/CT, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) OPERATIONS CENTER, HONG KONG FOR RSO AND LEGAT AND USSS, SHANGHAI FOR RSO, SHENYANG FOR RSO,CHENGDU FOR RSO, GUANGZHOU FOR RSO, USSS HQS FOR INV, OPO, HNL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2033 TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PTER SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: SITUATION REPORT #1, 08/01/2008 REF: BEIJING 2784 Classified By: DCM Dan Piccuta for reason 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) This is the first situation report (sitrep) from the USG Joint Operations Center (JOC) for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The JOC commenced 24/7 operations on 08/01/2008 at 0700 hours local time and will continue operations until 08/26/2008. This daily report will contain information on security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Beijing for the duration of the Olympic Games. This sitrep may also be accessed via ClassNet and SIPRNet at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Olym pics_Summer_2008 ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing has created an interagency JOC to coordinate information and to serve as the single point of contact for Olympic issues related to U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) security operations coordination, USG VIP delegations, U.S. corporate sponsors, and American citizen services. JOC personnel will staff three shifts: 0700-1500, 1500-2300, and 2300-0700 local time. USG deployed security assets currently number 92 personnel. Twenty one additional TDY staff will arrive on Saturday, 08/02/2008. ¶3. (U) The JOC can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following numbers: - JOC Direct Line: 011-86-010-6532-6966. - U.S. Embassy Beijing: 011-86-010-6532-3431, JOC extension ¶6200. - JOC fax: 011-86-010-6532-4763. - STE and fax: 011-86-010-6532-5163. ¶4. (U) Public Affairs and Consular representatives are integrated within the JOC and may be reached on a 24-hour basis at the numbers listed above. ¶5. (S/NF) The Threat Integration Center (TIC),which will monitor threat and security intelligence related to the Olympics, initiated operations as of 07/28/2008, running eight hour shifts from 0700-1500 and 1500-2300 local time. Twenty-four hour TIC operations were started on 08/01/2008 to correspond with the JOC. The TIC will now staff twelve hour shifts until 08/25/2008 and will produce twice daily intelligence sitreps at 1400 and 0200 hours local time. SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) Threats: On 07/28/2008, an unsubstantiated write-in to a U.S. Government website claimed that two foreigners--a man from Germany and a woman from Australia--might pose an unspecified threat to the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team. The message claimed that these individuals, who allegedly were staying at the same hotel where the U.S. team is to be lodged, probably were terrorists and had unsuccessfully tried to confirm their reservation at the hotel by claiming that they were part of the U.S. Olympic Team. (Please see TD-314/056453-08, dated July 28, for additional information.) The information in this report has been passed to Chinese security officials. The Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Shenyang, who is responsible for coordinating security with the USOC at the Dalian venues where the team is currently training, has also been made aware of this information and will follow-up with local police contacts. ¶7. (SBU) Incidents: On 07/31/2008, the Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) met with USOC to review security at Beijing Normal University (BNU),which is being used by U.S. teams for training. This was in response to an incident on 07/29/2008 in which USOC personnel found four plastic water bottles containing handwritten notes inside of a secured, fenced area at the University. One note, written in English, stated: "Get back my freedom." The other notes, written in Chinese, stated: "BNU sold itself to America;" "Olympics should die;" and "Going against the people BNU is America,s land." Chinese police took possession of the bottles, which are believed to have been placed at the site by disgruntled students. There is no further information available on the status of the Chinese investigation into the incident. ¶8. (U) Olympic Protest Zones: There is no reported activity at any of the three designated protest zones in Beijing. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On 07/24/2008, the JOC and TIC conducted a successful crisis management exercise emphasizing interagency cooperation and coordination in a worst-case scenario involving mass casualties and the failure of local communications systems. The table-top exercise helped participants to refine their missions, become familiar with U.S. Embassy operations, and sensitize themselves to China-specific operational issues. Lessons learned allowed the JOC to identify alternate methods of reporting to the field and to headquarters level in the event of emergency so that information will continue to flow in the absence of normal communication systems. ¶10. (SBU) On 07/30/2008, 18 USG Field Liaison Officers (FLO) participated in a positive meeting with 23 of their Chinese counterparts. The twenty-one additional FLOs arriving this weekend will conduct a similar meeting with Chinese authorities on 08/04/2008; the Deputy Chief of Mission for U.S. Embassy Beijing and Chinese Standing Deputy Director General (SDDG) Xue Dongzhen will oversee this event. ¶11. (SBU) On 08/01/2008, the Olympic Security Office in Beijing conducted a secure video-teleconference with members of the National Security Council in Washington, DC, to provide an update on USG security preparations for the Olympics. The 63 accreditations allotted to the USG in the MOU with the Chinese are expected to be issued by 08/05/2008; FLOs are expected to be deployed and fully operational once these are received. Currently, FLOs for the Women,s Soccer team in Qinhuangdao and the Men,s Soccer team in Tianjin, as well as the FLOs for the sailing venue in Qingdao, are in the field. Accreditation issues for Hong Kong venues were resolved on 07/29/2008. The Defense Attache (DAO) briefed that information had been passed to the Chinese informing them that if a large-scale medical emergency were to occur, initial coordination will take place through the JOC to support normal assistance provided by the Consular Office. This discussion is bilateral in nature and has not been made public. PENDING ISSUES -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Olympic competition venue access for FLO handheld radios and satellite phones, as well as Vehicle Access and Parking Passes (VAPPs) for the Olympic competition and non-competition venues, remain unresolved issues. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶13. (U) Olympic Press Venues: The MPC (Main Press Center) is the official press center for BOCOG/IOC-accredited journalists in Beijing for the Olympics. The IBC (International Broadcast Center) is for BOCOG- or IOC-accredited TV and radio journalists. The MPC and IBC are both located on the Olympic Green and require Olympic credentials to access. Non-accredited journalists (estimated at several thousand) can access the BIMC (Beijing International Media Center),a Chinese government-facilitated press center located at the Huabei Hotel. The BIMC assists non-accredited journalists with information, transportation, and other services. ¶14. (U) Internet Blocking Update: As of 08/01/2008 mid-day local time, journalists at the MPC reportedly were able to access sensitive web sites (Amnesty International, Falun Gong, etc.) that had been previously blocked. However, restrictions on sensitive web sites remained for ordinary Chinese Internet users. ¶15. (SBU) Dui Hua Foundation head John Kamm has written to Chinese officials asking for an explanation why his organization's website has been blocked. In his e-mail, Kamm asked whether the Chinese Government views Dui Hua as a hostile organization engaged in or advocating activities that break Chinese law. He noted that websites of other human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch are not being blocked. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶16. (SBU) Falsified Passport for Chinese Athlete: During a visa interview 07/29/2008 at Consulate General Shanghai, Chinese basketball player Mr. Han Shuo admitted to using a falsified passport in 2005 in order to obtain a U.S. visa and compete in an under-18 youth basketball competition sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Han stated the Chinese Basketball Association and Jiangsu Provincial authorities deliberately changed the birth date on his passport in order to allow Mr. Han to compete as a 17-year old even though he was 20 at the time. Mr. Han, who was applying for a visa to attend a developmental basketball camp with the San Antonio Spurs, was denied a visa based on his prior willful misrepresentation. (Please see Shanghi 294 for additional information.) Political Affairs -------------- ¶17. (U) July 31 MFA Press Briefing: MFA Spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed President Bush would meet with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Xi Jinping during the Olympics. Liu said President Bush,s 07/29/2008 meeting with five Chinese dissidents was a gross interference in China,s internal affairs and provided encouragement to anti-China forces. (Please see Beijing 2964 for additional information.) RANDT