October 7 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: TAIWAN ARMS SALES, SIX-PARTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003836 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR PHUM PTER CH KN JP KS TW SUBJECT: October 7 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: TAIWAN ARMS SALES, SIX-PARTY TALKS, FINANCIAL CRISIS, GUANTANAMO UIGHURS, KOREAN SEA INCIDENTS, DALAI LAMA NEGOTIATIONS, MILK CRISIS ¶1. Key points at the October 7 afternoon MFA press briefing were: -- The United States' arms sale to Taiwan has "contaminated the atmosphere" of U.S.-China relations, "gravely jeopardized China's security" and "created obstacles to exchanges and cooperation" with the United States. --"The Six-Party talks have already made much progress and have the opportunity to make more." -- China is ready to "work with the international community and maintain cooperation and communication" to handle the financial crisis. -- China urges the United States to repatriate the Chinese citizens held at Guantanamo "sooner rather than later." -- The spokesperson acknowledged a "series of sea incidents" off the Korean Peninsula. -- The spokesperson had no information about a date for the next round of talks with the Dalai Lama. -- The Chinese government "at all levels" has taken the milk crisis seriously. -- China's "door is always open" and China will continue to facilitate the work of reporters. -- Although the spokesperson did not confirm the exact time for a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Hu Jintao on the margins of ASEM, he did say that Aso is welcome to visit China. Taiwan Arms Sale -------------- ¶2. At the October 7 regular MFA pres briefing, spokesperson Qin Gang said that the United States "ignored China's strong opposition" when it decided to sell weapons to Taiwan. The decision has "contaminated the atmosphere" of relations, "gravely jeopardized China's security" and "created obstacles to exchanges and cooperation" with the United States. Qin responded directly to a statement made by a U.S. Defense Department spokesperson which referenced the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Qin said that the TRA "runs against the three communiques between the United States and China and international norms." The United States "has no right to place its domestic law over international law," said Qin. Qin said that the Defense Department spokesperson's characterization of China's military strength as a destabilizing force is "a fallacy." China follows "a path of peaceful development" and is a force for peace in the world which does not seek hegemony over other nations. ;China "urges the United States to honor its commitment to the three communiques, drop the weapons sale and end military relations with Taiwan in order to avoid damaging China-U.S. relations and cross-Strait peace." Asked whether the sale would affect China-Taiwan relations, Qin referred the reporter to the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office. Qin referred a question about how long the sale would affect U.S.-China relations to the Ministry of National Defense. Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶3. Asked whether the Six-Party Talks have achieved a "breakthrough," Qin responded saying "the Six-Party talks have already made much progress and have the opportunity to make more." Qin confirmed that A/S Christopher Hill briefed VFM Wu Dawei on Hill's visit to North Korea. Qin said that Hill had "long and substantive" talks while in North Korea. China would like to see all parties communicate to "fulfill the second phase of action at an early date." Financial Crisis -------------- ¶4. The current financial crisis is "not the problem of one country" and the international community should "join hands" to deal with the issue. China is ready to "work with the international community and maintain cooperation and communication" to handle the crisis. China has not discussed an Asian summit on the financial crisis with Japan or Korea; however the three countries should continue their close coordination and communication. Guantanamo Uighurs -------------- ¶5. Qin said "there are some Chinese terror suspects in Guantanamo" prisons who are "members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement" and should be "handed over to China." Terror is "a shared threat" and there "should not be double standards." China urges the United State to repatriate these terrorists "sooner rather than later." BEIJING 00003836 002 OF 002 Sea Accidents -------------- ¶6. Asked to respond to reports that North Korean ships fired on a Chinese fishing vessel, wounding its captain and that in a separate incident South Korean officials have arrested 11 Chinese citizens for killing a Coast Guard official, Qin said that there have been "a series of recent sea incidents which China takes seriously." Without specifying whether the incident involved North or South Korean vessels, Qin confirmed that a Chinese fishing boat in the Yellow Sea suffered a collision resulting in the captain being wounded. The captain has received medical treatment and is recovering. Qin went on to say that China will "keep communicating with the relevant country to conduct an investigation" of the incident. Referring to a separate incident, Qin noted that China also expresses regret over the death of a South Korean Coast Guard official and will communicate with the ROK regarding the investigation. Negotiations with the Dalai Lama -------------- ¶7. Asked whether China and the Dalai Lama would hold another round of negotiations soon, Qin said that the relevant central government department will announce any information on negotiations. Qin said that "the Dalai" must make steps to meet the central government's requirements. Milk Crisis -------------- ¶8. Asked for updated figures on the number of babies sickened by contaminated milk powder, Qin Gang said that the Chinese government at all levels has taken the milk crisis seriously. After the problem was discovered, parents were encouraged to have their infants examined. Treatment for contaminated milk related illness is free. Olympic Reporting Rules -------------- ¶9. China's policy of reform and opening will continue even though the Olympics have ended said Qin in response to a question about the upcoming expiration of Olympic reporting rules. China's "door is always open" and China will continue to facilitate the work of reporters, said Qin. New Japanese Prime Minister Visit To China -------------- ¶10. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is welcome to visit China at a time convenient for the two countries, said Qin. China and Japan are "major neighbors" and "China attaches great importance to relations," said Qin. The spokesperson did not confirm the exact time for a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Hu Jintao on the margins of ASEM. Nobel Prize -------------- ¶11. Asked for China's position on the Nobel Peace Prize, Qin said that many of the award's recipients worked toward world peace and the betterment of mankind, however, "others have not followed Mr. Nobel's original intentions." "The prize should be given to the right person," said Qin. SARS a Biological Weapon? -------------- ¶12. Asked to respond to a report that SARS is actually a Chinese biological weapon, Qin asked who had written such an "irresponsible" report. PICCUTA