DISCUSSIONS WITH MFA ON CURRENT U.S. ACTIVITY IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000353

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EAP/RSP BLAIR HALL, S/CT DARCY ANDERSON, ISN/RA CHARLES
MAHAFFEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: PREL ARF APEC CH PTER
SUBJECT: DISCUSSIONS WITH MFA ON CURRENT U.S. ACTIVITY IN
ARF

REF: A. STATE 8005 B. SHEIVES-ZHANG HAIYING EMAIL

JANUARY 25

Classified By: Political Officer Ted Lyng for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (U) This cable contains an action request (see para 8).


2. (C) Summary: Poloffs delivered ref A points and documents
on the Singaporean draft Review of the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) paper and the U.S. draft Counterterrorism and
Transnational Crime Workplan to MFA Asia Department Regional
Security Division Director Ma Jia on January 30. Poloffs
also updated Ma on current U.S. activities in ARF, including
the U.S. nonproliferation proposal. Ma previewed China,s
comments to the Review of the ARF paper and China's plans for
the current ARF intersessional year. MFA officials welcomed
the U.S. proposal (ref B) for bilateral discussions on ARF,
ARF-APEC coordination and broader regional architecture
issues on April 1 in Washington. End Summary.

Review of ARF
--------------


3. (C) PolOffs on January 30 delivered to MFA Asia Department
Regional Security Division Director Ma Jia U.S. comments on
the Singaporean draft Review of the ARF paper, highlighting
the proposals for an ARF Vision Statement and increased
resources for the Secretariat. Ma expressed thanks for the
information and said China's comments on the paper will focus
on the need for enhanced defense engagement within ARF and on
"greater financial cooperation." Ma did not elaborate on the
meaning of "financial cooperation," but said her office may
later pass China,s official comments to the United States.

Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime Workplan
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Poloffs also delivered ref A points, accompanying
non-paper, and U.S. draft concept paper related to the ARF
Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime Workplan. Ma said
China supports in principle the concept of more effectively
coordinating ARF,s security efforts, but deferred official
comment pending a closer examination of the proposal.

Other ARF Matters
--------------


5. (C) In response to Ma,s question, PolOffs updated China
on the status of other U.S. proposals in ARF, including a
workshop on reconstruction and stabilization and ongoing U.S.
discussions with Indonesia on the focus of an Inter-Sessional
Meeting (ISM) on nonproliferation issues. Poloffs discussed
the possibility of a lower-level workshop on nonproliferation
if Indonesia does not agree to a higher-level ISM meeting.


6. (C) China will propose a third ARF Expert and Eminent
Persons (EEP) meeting in Beijing to further discuss the
Review of ARF concept, according to Director Ma. China will
probably also propose a meeting on the legal aspects of
disaster relief, particularly military involvement in relief
operations.


7. (C) In an earlier meeting between MFA Asia Department
Deputy Director General Yang Yanyi and PolMinCouns, Yang
referenced the proposal (ref B) to hold discussions with
EAP/RSP Director Blair Hall and other U.S. officials on April
1 in Washington. Ma separately responded positively to the
proposed agenda items: ARF institutional matters and security
efforts, approaches to regional architecture and,
particularly, ARF-APEC coordination. MFA officials suggested
that the United States send a formal invitation letter and
list of proposed agenda topics.

ACTION REQUEST
--------------


8. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Please provide an official
invitation and list of proposed agenda topics for the April 1
discussions in Washington.
RANDT