VFM ZHANG YESUI CALLS AUGUST 4 KASHGAR "TERRORIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003007 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2033 TAGS: PREL KOLY PGOV CH SUBJECT: VFM ZHANG YESUI CALLS AUGUST 4 KASHGAR "TERRORIST ATTACK" RARE AND TRAGIC REF: BEIJING 3002 Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui called the August 4 "terrorist attack" in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (reftel),"rare and tragic" during an August 4 meeting with the Ambassador (other topics reported septels). According to VFM Zhang, at 08:00 on August 4, a truck with two "terrorists" on board "rammed into" a group of Chinese armed border police that had been conducting drills, killing 16 and wounding another 16. Previously, China had believed that terrorism was "far away." In recent years, however, terrorism has gotten "closer and closer" to China, VFM Zhang said. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador conveyed to VFM Zhang his condolences for the families of those killed and injured in the attack. VFM Zhang, noting that those killed today were "extremely young," closed by stating that security remains China's top concern regarding the Olympics, so as to ensure a "safe and smooth" Games for all. RANDT