BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 BEIJING 003002 SIPDIS DEPT, FOR, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/DO, DS/TIA/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: 08/04/2033 TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT NO.4, 08/04/2008 REF: A. STATE 81117 ¶B. BEIJING 2997 Classified By: DCM Dan Piccuta for reason 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on security, public diplomacy, and consular activities related to the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games as of 08/04/2008. Copies of this and previous situation reports can be found on the following ClassNet/SIPRNet link: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Olym pics Summer 2008. ¶2. (U) The interagency USG Joint Operations Center (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. KEY CONCERNS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) U.S. Embassy Beijing is considering the possible negative effect on JOC and Threat Integration Center (TIC) operations in light of a scheduled power outage proposed by State Information Resource Management (IRM) over the weekend of 08/16/2008-08/17/2008; the outage will disrupt the Beltsville Information Management Center,s (BIMC) regular services and functions, to include availability of international and domestic data circuits, IVG lines, and OpenNet connectivity (ref. a). Currently, ten JOC agencies and approximately 900 TDY personnel are reliant upon Post,s $23 million investment in Olympic support infrastructure, which includes the State Department communication systems that provide contact with field liaison agents, other Embassies and Consulates, various law enforcement field offices around the world and headquarters organizations. Timely information sharing via State systems is the cornerstone of JOC protective efforts and life safety operations during the Olympic Games. Agencies participating in the joint USG Olympic effort should review 08 State 81117, DTG 281838Z Jul 08, for information on the outage and should seek additional information from State IRM as necessary. Agencies are also encouraged to reply with any specific concerns to IRM or through their JOC personnel. SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶4. (U) Threats: There is no significant threat information to report. ¶5. (SBU) Incidents: According to China's state media agency, Xinhua, at least 16 police officers were killed and up to 16 wounded in an 08/04/2008 attack against a police BEIJING 00003002 002 OF 005 border defense base in the city of Kashgar, located over 2,000 miles from eijing in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Press reports state that the perpetrators crashed a truck into the station and detonated two grenades; however, one article indicated that the police were conducting morning exercises near a local hotel when they were attacked. Two suspects have reportedly been arrested; there have there have been no claims of responsibility for the attack. There is no indication that American citizens were injured or involved in the incident. ¶6. (SBU) Rumors have been circulating in Beijing that a number of Japanese corporations are ordering dependent family members to depart China due to fears of an avian flu outbreak and/or other medical epidemic. Information available to U.S. Embassy Beijing has indicated that the companies in question include Mitsubishi and Hitachi and that while employees have been advised to consider sending family members out of the country, they have been given until March 2009 to do so. The departure recommendation applies only to dependent family members; employees are reportedly required to stay through the end of their current assignments. There is no indication that the corporations are responding a specific outbreak or medical event but rather appear to be exercising risk management in terms of the numbers of personnel who would need medical assistance in the event of an emergency. ¶7. (U) According to the South China Morning Post, as of 08/03/2008, Chinese police are searching for a young man they consider a suspect in the 07/21/2008 bombings of two city buses in Kunming, China. Closed-circuit television reportedly recorded the suspect hastily leaving the area of the bus stations before the blast but returning after the bombs had exploded. Police claim the suspect probably had no accomplice but had professional knowledge of telecommunications and explosives. ¶8. (SBU) Olympic Protests: On 08/04/2008, the Associated Press reported that approximately two dozen protesters clashed with police in the historic Qianmen District in Beijing, just south of Tiananmen Square. The demonstrators had allegedly been evicted from their homes in order to make way for construction in the district, which is being rebuilt into a commercial shopping area. Immediately following these reports, a U.S. Embassy Political Section employee visited the area and found no evidence of the disturbance. An AP television crew reportedly was in the area at the time of the protest and filmed the incident. ¶9. (U) Chinese authorities on 08/02/2008 denied entry to and deported two overseas Chinese dissidents planning to join a protest march scheduled for 08/06/2008 in Hong Kong, according to the Taipei Central News. The Chairman of the Chinese Liberal Democratic Party and Vice Chairman of the Federation for a Democratic China, citizens of New Zealand BEIJING 00003002 003.3 OF 005 and Australia, respectively, will instead conduct unspecified activities in Taiwan to "express their concerns." SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Per the Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Government outlining USG operations during the Olympic Games, the Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) has received 59 venue accreditations for USG Field Liaison Officers (FLO). Four additional accreditations will be provided for FLOs assigned to Qingdao. These accreditations will allow for the on-time deployment of FLOs to their venues of coverage, starting with those assigned to the Men,s Soccer venue in Tianjin. In addition to providing entry to specific venues, all accreditations also include authorized access to the Olympic Village. ¶11. (SBU) As of 08/03/2008, the OSC had also received Chinese licensing for the use of FLO handheld radios and satellite phones to provide redundant communications for personnel assigned to various sites in Beijing. Radios will be assigned to each FLO, as well as be placed into the 13 FLO vehicles and the JOC; satellite phones will be available at each venue. Previously, the U.S. Embassy had not been allowed an Emergency and Evacuation (E & E) radio net due to Chinese restrictions on the use of such devices in country; the approval of the Olympics radios therefore constitutes a significant step in augmenting the communications capabilities of the JOC and the personnel assigned to the field. ¶12. (SBU) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) representatives in the JOC have confimed that TSA personnel are now stationed at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) and at the airports in Shanghai and Hong Kong. A total of nine TSA employees will conduct observations of flight arrivals and departures at the three airports. ¶13. (SBU) According to Consulate General Hong Kong, the Dressage and Eventing teams of the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team (USET) arrived in Hong Kong late last week and the Jumping team is scheduled to arrive on 08/05/2008 and 08/06/2008. The majority of the USET (riders, grooms, and support staff) are scheduled to be in Hong Kong by 08/07/2008, with the last participants arriving after the Olympics begin. FLOs have begun their coordination with the USET and meet daily with USET Executive staff to discuss scheduling changes, team arrivals and other matters; FLOs are also meeting several times a day with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF),who have set up a Command Post at the team residence. VIPS -------------- ¶14. (SBU) A number of VIP delegations will be present in BEIJING 00003002 004 OF 005 Beijing throughout the Olympic Games. These individuals include high-level officials from U.S. federal, state, and local governments, as well as high-profile personalities and corporate leaders. Of primary importance for U.S. Embassy operations are the proposed visits by the USG Delegations to the Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The USG Delegation to the Opening Ceremony will be headed by the President of the United States, accompanied by the First Lady, Former President George H. W. Bush, Former First Lady Barbara Bush, and members of the First Family. They are scheduled to arrive on 08/07/2008. ¶15. (SBU) In addition to the Opening Ceremony Delegation, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson will be arriving in Beijing on 08/08/2008 and is scheduled to depart on 08/15/2008. ¶16. (SBU) The USG Delegation to the Olympics Closing Ceremony will be led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, and Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. The Delegation is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on 08/22/2008 and to depart the city on 08/25/2008. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶17. (U) There is no significant information or activity to report. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶18. (U) American Citizen Services (ACS): The U.S. Embassy in Beijing prepared 63,000 brochures that provide information useful to Americans traveling in China, including local emergency numbers and addresses (both Chinese and Mission China). ACS obtained agreement from Northwest, United, and Continental airlines to distribute the pamphlet to passengers traveling to China. Northwest confirmed it has placed the fliers at the gates of all China-bound flights at Narita Airport in Japan--all China-bound Northwest flights go through Narita--and United Airlines confirmed it has distributed the fliers to its hubs serving China-bound flights. Continental Airlines has confirmed it is handing out the documents to Americans entering China. Please go to http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/olympic flyer.html to see a copy of the brochure. ¶19. (SBU) American Citizen Detention: An American citizen detained for several hours last week for shoplifting was released on 08/01/2008 so he could contact his family to get money to buy a plane ticket home. Although the case is not directly related to the Olympic Games, the fact that the police decided to release the American so he could get money to leave is highly unusual and may indicate a shift in how authorities plan on dealing with foreigners who have BEIJING 00003002 005 OF 005 committed petty crimes. In the past, the police have detained such foreigners for at least two weeks before deporting them. ¶20. (SBU) Lost Passports: The Embassy is currently assisting several Americans who lost their passports over the weekend. Typically, the Consular Section can issue an emergency passport the same day the loss is reported. Before departing China, though, the person must then go to the Chinese Entry/Exit Bureau and apply for an exit visa--a process that normally takes four to five working days. In an effort to gauge the speed of receiving an exit visa, the Embassy has asked Americans to e-mail the American Citizen section after returning home detailing their experiences when getting an exit visa. POLITICAL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶21. (SBU) Pope Sends Olympics Message: According to media reports, in an 08/03/2008 address in northern Italy, Pope Benedict sent China best wishes for a successful Olympics. The message, along with the fact that the Pope will be represented at Friday's Opening Ceremony by a Hong Kong Bishop, are a sign of the Vatican's attempt to improve relations with Beijing. ¶22. (U) Torch Run Ignites Emotional Response in Earthquake Province: According to media reports, the Olympic Torch Run through Sichuan Province on 08/03/2008 ignited a positive and emotional response among local residents. Parts of Sichuan Province suffered a devastating earthquake on 05/12/2008. ¶23. (C) Press Freedom: An American journalist said on 08/04/2008 that to date journalists are able to cover stories of interest and, outside of Tibet, move freely within China. The journalist said he was recently in several cities in Xinjiang, where he reported without interference. (Note: There have been recent reported cases of foreign journalists not being allowed to report freely, particularly in Xinjiang.) Two senior Chinese journalists said separately on 08/04/2008 that the Propaganda Department has provided no specific guidance on Olympics reporting. According to one of these journalists, chief editors decide what is appropriate to report and do not have to be told directly that reporting must be positive. However, determining the exact location of the red line is not always easy, he said. RANDT