BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 003147 NOFORN 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: 08/17/2038 TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 17, 08/17/2008 REF: A. BEIJING 3076 ¶B. BEIJING 3091 ¶C. BEIJING 3146 Classified By: DCM Dan Piccuta for reason 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on security, public diplomacy, political, and consular activities related to the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games as of 08/17/2008. ¶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 ISSUES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) At approximately 1130 hours local time on 08/17/2008, the JOC lost unclassified and classified connectivity via the State Department's OpenNet and ClassNet systems. Efforts over the past week to confirm with the Department's Information Resource Management (IRM) bureau that our Olympics communications would not be disrupted by planned maintenance at the Beltsville Information Management Center (BIMC) failed to prevent loss of connectivity (ref. a). The BIMC power outage and maintenance scheduled for the weekend of 08/16/2008 and 08/17/2008 resulted in communications outages not anticipated--in fact considered and dismissed--by IRM. Limited internet access was quickly restored and OpenNet was back online within a few hours. However, the overall outage was projected to last until 1700 hours local time, leaving the JOC without full outside connectivity on State Department classified and unclassified networks for periods of 90 minutes to five and a half hours during the middle of the 2008 Olympic Games. Limited access outside the Embassy was available via the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) separate, secure internet line, as well as the FBI's secure FBINet, which is run through a separate server unaffected by the BIMC outage. This will be a lesson learned for the 2012 Summer Olympics. SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Threats: U.S. Women's Volleyball Coach Reports Hostile Messages: On 08/16/2008, the JOC was notified by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) security office that U.S. BEIJING 00003147 002 OF 004 Women's Indoor Volleyball coach Lang Ping was concerned for her safety after finding "threatening" messages on the Chinese website "sohu.com." A review of the site by JOC agencies failed to reveal any hostile information, though it is possible that the messages had already been removed. The JOC had conducted a previous website review with negative results following the receipt of claims by a write-in that Lang was being targeted by Chinese extreme nationalists (ref. a); the source was subsequently determined to be not credible (ref. b). U.S. Embassy political officers have found several postings accusing Lang--a former Chinese volleyball player--of being a "traitor" or "turncoat," though none contain any threats of violence; Embassy officers noted that one vociferous posting had been taken down by the web host (www.exeem.com). It appears that Chinese Internet users are engaging in a lively debate over whether Lang deserves to be criticized as a "traitor;" many chat room participants, however, are jumping to Lang's defense. On 08/15/2008, Lang requested additional protective coverage for her movements through the volleyball stadium following the U.S. win over the Chinese team in preliminary rounds; the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) responded to this by increasing the number of security personnel to provide "body coverage" for Lang (ref. c). ¶5. (SBU) Incidents: (SBU) Unauthorized Access to Men's Basketball Locker Room: On 08/16/2008, the USG Field Liaison Officer (FLO) assigned to the Olympics Basketball venue notified the JOC that several individuals without credentials were able to gain access to the U.S. Men,s Basketball press area and locker room after the team,s winning game against Spain. When challenged, they claimed that Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) volunteers had let them into the secure area. Chinese police removed the overzealous fans from the immediate area, moving them to the team bus lot--also a secure area--before finally escorting them back to the spectator space. Later in the same evening, another individual without proper credentials entered the locker room. After a brief scuffle, BOCOG volunteers escorted him from the area. In response to these incidents, the FLO suggested to Chinese counterparts that an increased security presence would be helpful for the remaining men,s and women,s basketball games; this will become particularly important if the U.S. Men's Swimming team--which has also attracted large crowds of eager fans--attends the U.S. Men's Basketball game on 08/18/2008. ¶6. (S/NF) Radiation Detection in Shanghai: According to tearline language, "A Radiation Detection Device at Shanghai Stadium reportedly activated during the evening of 08/16/2008, prior to the Olympic soccer game between Argentina and the Netherlands. Security personnel took appropriate actions. The game began on time and without BEIJING 00003147 003 OF 004 incident." Department of Energy (DOE) representatives in the JOC note that radiological portal monitors are commonly activated by persons who have recently undergone certain types of medical treatments; the fact that the event proceeded as scheduled is consistent with this type of benign alarm activation. According to open source reporting, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau (PSB) has deployed more than 30 nuclear radiation detection systems at the Shanghai Stadium. ¶7. (U) Olympic Protests: There were no reports of protests overnight on 08/16/2008. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶8. (U) Security Re-Organized at Olympic Venues: According to an 08/16/2008 report in the UK-based Telegraph daily, a delegation of Olympic sponsors--led by U.S. corporation Johnson and Johnson--complained to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that "draconian" Chinese security measures were keeping the Olympic Green virtually closed off to the public and were hurting the revenue of sponsors who had invested large sums of money to create "hospitality" areas for Olympics fans. The Telegraph states that following a meeting with Olympics sponsors, Chinese officials agreed to introduce a ticketing system to increase the number of visitors allowed on the Green to 200,000 a day, up from the 40,000 initially given access at the beginning of the Games. According to a Johnson and Johnson representative contacted by Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) members in the JOC, the Johnson and Johnson hospitality house has seen a 35-40 per cent increase in the number of visitors over the past several days. In addition the Beijing News reported the number of visitors to the Olympic Green reached 230,000 on 08/16/2008. The paper quotes a visitor complaining about a 40 minute wait to get through security and indicates that the wait to enter some shops reached one hour. VIPS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Former Olympian in Beijing: Michelle Kwan--former U.S. Olympic figure skating medalist--is currently in Beijing to attend the Olympic Games. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶10. (U) There is no significant information or activity to report. BEIJING 00003147 004 OF 004 CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Update on Americans Detained for Ticket Scalping: On 08/16/2008, the U.S. Embassy's American Citizens Services (ACS) unit confirmed the release of the remaining U.S. citizen detained on 08/15/2008 by Chinese authorities for reselling Olympics tickets (ref. c). The American's passport was not returned to her upon release and she was advised by police that she would have to go to the Chinese Public Security Bureau's Exit/Entry bureau on the morning of 08/18/2008 for further discussion of her case. One of the other four Americans detained for ticket scalping on 08/15/2008 has told ACS that she believes she was arrested because she is a former member of the Chinese Olympic team. She said she plans to contact CNN with her story. POLITICAL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶12. (U) More Traffic Restrictions, Beijing Subway Hits New Passenger Record: Beijing newspapers are warning motorists that, due to the high number of events taking place on 08/17/2008--including the women's marathon, diving, ping pong, badminton and track and field--extra traffic restrictions will be in place around several Olympic venues. Meanwhile, the Beijing Subway system reported that an all-time record 4.45 million passengers used the subway on 08/15/2008. Ridership has likely been increased by the fact that holders of Olympic tickets are allowed on the subway for free. ¶13. (U) First Olympic Ticket Scalping Trial Begins: Local papers report that on 08/16/2008, a Beijing court began hearing the trial of two Chinese men accused of identity theft and Olympic ticket scalping. The two allegedly forged national identity cards using the stolen identities of hundreds of Chinese citizens to purchase 1,579 Olympic tickets online. ¶14. (C) Wal-Mart Executive Confirms Ban on Knife Sales: A senior Wal-Mart executive (protect) told the U.S. Embassy that Wal-Mart has suspended the sale of kitchen knives until after the Olympic Games. The executive said the move was directly related to the 08/09/2008 attack against two U.S. citizens and their Chinese tour guide at Beijing's Drum Tower. This confirms information obtained by Embassy officers from Beijing shop owners that knife sales had been halted until the conclusion of the Olympics (ref. c). RANDT