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