TAIWAN ARMS SALES: PRC REACTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003803 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2033 TAGS: PREL MARR CH TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN ARMS SALES: PRC REACTS REF: BEIJING CH 3793 (USDAO BEIJING CH 052240Z OCT 08) Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Dan Piccuta. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In response to the October 3 notification to Congress of the sale of defense articles to Taiwan, on October 4 PRC Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei conveyed China's "strong protest" to visiting EAP Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill. Later that day, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei called in the Charge to deliver China's formal, written response. Reading from a prepared text, VFM He again delivered China's "strong protest" and noted that China "reserved the right to take further measures." Escorting the Charge to his vehicle, VFM He warned that there would be "consequences." On October 5, the PRC Ministry of National Defense (MND) informed Embassy Defense Attache Office (DAO) that China has decided to postpone or cancel 10 military-to-military contact events in 2008 (reftel). Later that day, MFA informed POLOFF that China will "suspend" (zanting) cooperation on four bilateral arms control and nonproliferation matters. End Summary. VFM Wu Dawei Conveys China's "Strong Protest" -------------- ¶2. (C) At the beginning of an October 4 meeting with visiting EAP A/S Christopher R. Hill, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei conveyed China's "strong protest" regarding the October 3 notification to Congress of the sale of defense articles to Taiwan and called upon the United States to revoke the U.S. decision and stop the sale. In reply, A/S Hill affirmed the U.S. commitment to our one China policy based on the three Joint Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). He expressed the USG's belief that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan contribute to stability in cross-Strait relations. The United States welcomes recent improvements in cross-Strait relations and supports the peaceful resolution of differences between the two sides. A/S Hill encouraged China to pursue constructive cross-Strait dialogue to reduce tensions further and urged reductions in China's military build-up across from Taiwan. VFM He Delivers Formal Demarche -------------- ¶3. (C) Later on October 4, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei called in the Charge to deliver China's full and formal demarche. VFM He, noting that he was under instruction to convey a "strong representation" in response to the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, read verbatim from a three-page written text, in Chinese, which the MFA later provided as a non-paper. The Embassy's informal translation of the demarche follows. (Original Chinese text conveyed to EAP/CM.) ¶4. (SBU) BEGIN CHINESE DEMARCHE: One. On October 3 (Washington, DC time),the U.S. Defense Department announced that it will sell components of the following six weapons systems to Taiwan: the "Patriot 3" anti-missile system, the "Hawkeye 2000" related upgrade and services for the "E-2T" early warning aircraft, the "Apache" helicopter, the "Javelin" guided missile system, submarine launched "Harpoon" missiles, and aircraft parts, at a total value of USD 6.463 billion. (The Defense Department) has already notified Congress. The U.S. side has disregarded the Chinese side's repeated solemn and just representations and insisted on implementing the above arms sales plan to Taiwan. The cost, variety, and advanced capability of these weapons have rarely been seen in recent years. The nature (of this sale) is very serious, and the consequences will be grave (yingxiang jiwei e'lie). Acting under instruction, I have called this emergency meeting with the Charge d'Affaires, a.i., in order to issue a strong protest (qianglie kangyi) to the U.S. side. Two. Taiwan is part of China. The Taiwan issue is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China strongly rejects the U.S. side selling weapons to Taiwan, and this position is unshakeable. In the China-U.S. "August 17" Joint Communique of August 17, 1982, the U.S. side clearly promised to "not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution." In the past 20 years, the U.S. side has repeatedly violated its commitment, and has not only not gradually reduced or ceased weapons sales to Taiwan, but has unceasingly sold advanced weaponry to Taiwan while the quantity and quality of said weaponry have continuously increased. In this case, many of the arms sold by the U.S. side to Taiwan are both offensive and defensive weapons, or purely offensive weapons, including many of the U.S. military's most up-to-date and advanced weapons. This is another escalation by the U.S. side on the issue of arms sales to Taiwan. The actions of the U.S. side completely violate the three China-U.S. Joint Communiques, especially the principles of the "August 17 Communique," have grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs, and have seriously endangered China's national security and the great cause of peaceful unification. China expresses its strong indignation and resolute opposition (qianglie fenkai he jianjue fandui). Three. Currently, the development of cross-Strait relations has shown good momentum. This is in keeping with the interests of international society, including the United States. We will continue in our unceasing efforts to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation and work hard to create a new situation of peaceful development in cross-Strait relations. However, no matter how cross-Strait relations may change, the one-China principle absolutely will not change. The U.S. side on the one hand welcomes improvement in cross-Strait relations and supports peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and yet on the other hand, at a key moment in the improvement and development of cross-Strait relations, sends a completely opposite signal by openly implementing a large-scale sale of advanced weaponry to Taiwan. This clearly has thrown up obstacles to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and is disrupting the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait! For the U.S. side to act in this way again exposes the ulterior motive to obstruct the great cause of China's peaceful unification. Regarding this, the 1.3 billion Chinese people express their strong opposition and condemnation (qianglie fandui he qianze). Four. Constructive, cooperative China-U.S. relations have made great progress over the past seven or more years due to the hard work of both sides. This situation did not come easily. Protecting and developing it further and meeting the common interests of the two countries will require hard work on both sides. Mutual respect and attention to mutual core interests are the inherent prerequisites of constructive, cooperative China-U.S. relations, as well as the preconditions for strengthening coordination and developing cooperation regarding major issues. The U.S. side is insisting on doing things its own way on the Taiwan arms sales issue and has seriously endangered the Chinese side's core interests, so the Chinese side has no choice but to adopt corresponding measures (bu de bu caiqu xiangying cuoshi). The U.S. side's error in conduct has seriously damaged both China-U.S. relations and bilateral cooperation in important areas. This is not something we wish to see, but the responsibility lies completely with the U.S. side. In order to protect the overall state of China-U.S. relations and fundamental common interests, we again strongly urge the U.S. side to fully recognize the high sensitivity and serious danger of arms sales to Taiwan, sincerely and seriously treat the Chinese side's solemn and just position, scrupulously abide by the three Joint China-U.S. Communiques, especially the "August 17 Communique," immediately stop plans to sell weapons to Taiwan, stop U.S.-Taiwan military relations, and stop disturbing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations so as to avoid endangering China-U.S. relations and the peaceful development of the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese side reserves the right to take further actions. Mr. Charge d'Affaires, a.i., please immediately convey China's above position to the highest levels of the United States Government. END CHINESE WRITTEN DEMARCHE. Charge Responds -------------- ¶5. (C) In response to VFM He's demarche, the Charge made the same points A/S Hill delivered to VFM Wu earlier in the day (para 2). VFM He, continuing to read from prepared text, answered by stressing China's continuing opposition to the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) as contrary to the principles of the three Joint Communiques and to basic norms of international relations. The United States has no right, VFM He stated, to put domestic law over international law nor to use the TRA as justification to sell weapons to Taiwan. China's "so-called arms build-up," he said, is limited, designed simply to prevent Taiwan independence, and completely unconnected to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. To use China's military deployments as an excuse to sell arms to Taiwan is "ludicrous," VFM He averred. ¶6. (C) U.S. arms sales to Taiwan damage bilateral and cross-Strait relations and in the end also do harm to U.S. interests, VFM He continued. China's position is clear. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is a very serious issue that undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China is firm in its opposition to such sales, and there is no room for flexibility as this is an issue of principle. This issue goes to the foundation of U.S.-China relations. The United States should appreciate the "grave nature" of this issue, correct this mistake and undo the damage caused to bilateral relations and to peace and development in the Taiwan Strait, VFM concluded. Subsequent PRC Reaction -------------- ¶7. (C) On October 5, the PRC Ministry of National Defense (MND) informed the Embassy Defense Attache Office (DAO) that China has decided to postpone or cancel 10 military-to-military contact events in 2008 (reftel). ¶8. (C) Later on October 5, MFA Arms Control Department Chemical and Biological Weapons Division Deputy Director Yang Yi called POLOFF to inform the Embassy that "although the United States and China have enjoyed constructive cooperation in arms control and nonproliferation matters," the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan has harmed China's interests. Reading from a prepared statement in Chinese, Yang said that as a result, China has decided to "suspend" (zanting) cooperation with the United States in arms control and nonproliferation by taking the following four steps: 1) China will not participate in the Director General-level U.S.-China Arms Control and Nonproliferation Dialogue scheduled for mid-November. 2) China will not participate in the second round of consultations on the Biological Weapons Convention scheduled for October. 3) Chinese officials will not participate in dialogue with the Congressional Commission on the U.S. Strategic Posture scheduled for October. 4) Chinese officials will not participate in the U.S.-China Arms Control and Nonproliferation Seminar in mid-November. PICCUTA NNNN End Cable Text