BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 003158 SENSITIVE 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: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC CH CMGT ECON KOLY OVIP PREL PTER SUBJECT: BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 18, 08/18/2008 REF: A. BEIJING 3117 ¶B. BEIJING 3147 ¶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 08/18/2008. ¶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. (U) Beijing air has been clear and the weather temperate since 08/15/2008. According to Chinese officials, Beijing experienced an eighth day of excellent air quality on 08/17/2008, providing favorable weather conditions for the ongoing Olympic events. Figures released by the China Environmental Monitoring Center indicated that Beijing's air pollution index (API) on 08/17/2008 showed a reading of 42, which is within the Grade I (50 or below)--or excellent--range. According to a Beijing-based weather expert interviewed by China's state news agency, Beijing's air quality is expected to be good through the afternoon of 08/18/2008, after which time the wind is predicted to change direction and to bring pollutants from adjacent cities to parts of Beijing. Extended forecasts show the development of a tropical depression near Guam that could gain strength and reach typhoon status by the middle of the week; currently moving on a west-northwest heading, it is too early to tell if this storm system will affect the closing of the Olympic Games. SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Threats: There is no significant threat information to report. ¶5. (U) Incidents: There were no reports of security incidents overnight on 08/17/2008. ¶6. (U) Olympic Protests: There were no reports of protests overnight on 08/17/2008. BEIJING 00003158 002 OF 004 SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) FLOs Continue Security Efforts: The USG Field Liaison Officers (FLO) assigned to a number of high-profile U.S. Olympic teams continue their security liaison efforts with Chinese counterparts. FLOs for the U.S. Women's Soccer team have traveled with the team to Beijing as the team has advanced to the medal rounds; all soccer events have been completed in the cities of Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, and Shanghai. FLOs assigned to the U.S. Men's Basketball team will coordinate efforts with Chinese security officials on 08/18/2008 to ensure appropriate venue crowd control for this evening's U.S. versus Germany basketball game, which will be attended by members of the U.S. Men's Swimming team. The U.S. Women's Softball team also continues to advance in play and to garner high levels of attention from fans; FLOs assigned to the team continue to work with their Chinese counterparts to provide appropriate levels of security as the team moves into medal competition. ¶8. (SBU) FLO Departure: The FLOs assigned to the U.S. Fencing and Shooting teams are scheduled to depart Beijing on 08/17/2008, following the completion of their teams' competitions. VIPS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Preparations Underway for Delegation's Arrival: The USG Delegation to the Olympics Closing Ceremony--with Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt--is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on 08/22/2008. Security preparations for the visit are already being made by the Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) and the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Officer (RSO); these include determining Olympic venue access for Delegation members, assigning previously obtained Vehicle Access and Parking Passes (VAPPs),and coordinating liaison between the Delegation's security advance team and Chinese counterparts. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶10. (U) Embassy Articles on Olympics: Over the weekend, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section mailed 15,000 copies of Post's quarterly Chinese-language journal "Xin Jiao Liu" to high level Chinese contacts, including academics, journalists, and government officials. This quarter's edition included a number of original articles about the Beijing Olympics. ¶11. (U) Embassy Beijing Olympic Website: The Public Affairs Section's Olympic website, BEIJING 00003158 003 OF 004 http://2008beijing.embassyusa.cn, provides accurate, up-to-date information during the Olympic Games. For the Chinese audience, it highlights the breadth of the American participation in and support for the Beijing Olympics. The site includes information on cultural and official activities, video, Olympic-focused English lessons, perspectives from American Olympians, and photo galleries. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Baby Born in Hotel Room: The U.S. Embassy's American Citizens Services (ACS) unit was advised on the night of 08/17/2008 that an 18-year old U.S. citizen gave birth to a baby girl in her Beijing hotel room. The woman--who is in Beijing to attend the Olympic Games with her father--was alone at the time of the birth as her father was attending an Olympic event. Both the woman and her father have stated that they were unaware of her pregnancy. Mother and daughter were transported to Beijing United Hospital where they are doing well, according to the U.S. Embassy Medical Officer. ¶13. (U) Bibles Confiscated: Airport customs officials in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming seized 300 bibles from four U.S. citizens on 08/17/2008. AFP and AP reported that Pat Klein--a 46-year-old U.S. missionary who runs a group called Vision Beyond Borders--and three other Americans had Chinese-language bibles confiscated upon their arrival from Thailand; they were told they could reclaim the bibles when departing China. Klein was quoted as saying he had brought more than 10,000 bibles into the country over the past 20 years. On 08/18/2008, the airport Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) contacted the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu and informed the consular officer that Chinese Customs officials have offered the Americans the option of entering China without the excess bibles or departing the country with their shipment. The FAO claims the Americans have refused to leave Kunming airport under either condition. The Consulate is actively attempting to contact the Americans directly to provide assistance. ¶14. (SBU) Continued Detention of American: The U.S. citizen detained by Chinese police for an altercation with a taxi driver on 08/13/2008 remains in custody (ref. a). ACS will continue to monitor his status. POLITICAL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶15. (U) Police Continue to Target Scalpers: According to a Xinhua article dated 08/17/2008, Beijing police are continuing their campaign against illegal ticket brokers, BEIJING 00003158 004 OF 004 with a reported 221 people and 569 Olympics tickets seized since 08/15/2008. Police indicate that 71 people have been detained, while others were released with verbal warnings; 31 foreigners were caught in the sweep and the visas of 14 people were revoked. The four U.S. citizens detained on 08/15/2008 for the resale of tickets have all been released (ref. b). ¶16. (U) Dalai Lama Accuses China of Torture: According to international news reports on 08/17/2008, the Dalai Lama has accused China of torturing Tibetans, sometimes to death, during the Olympic Games. AP reports that in an interview with French television news station TF1 on 08/16/2008, the Dalai Lama said that "the Olympic spirit is not all respected by Chinese officials inside Tibet," and that "often civilians are arrested and tortured very violently, to the point where they die." The Dalai Lama is in France for the duration of the Olympics. RANDT