CHINA'S PROPOSED AGENDA AND DATES FOR THE U.S.-CHINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000038 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO EAP/CM SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2033 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KOLY CH SUBJECT: CHINA'S PROPOSED AGENDA AND DATES FOR THE U.S.-CHINA COUNTERTERRORISM SUB-DIALOGUE Classified by Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (U) This is an action message: See paragraph 8. ¶2. (C) Summary: China proposes that the first U.S.-China Counterterrorism Sub-Dialogue discuss Olympic security and protection, counterterrorism cooperation and training and the inclusion of East Turkestan Liberation Organization (ETLO) on the UN Sanctions Committee's Resolution 1267 Consolidated List. If including ETLO on the UN sanctions list poses a problem, China is willing to discuss including individuals associated with ETLO on the UN list as an alternative strategy. China recommends late February in Beijing for the CT Sub-Dialogue meeting and requests a reply "soon." END Summary. ¶3. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) International Organizations and Conferences Department Deputy Director Yao Shaojun met with PolOffs on January 3 and proposed three general topics for the Counterterrorism (CT) Sub-Dialogue agenda: Olympic security and protection, CT cooperation and training and inclusion of the East Turkestan Liberation Organization (ETLO) on the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee's Resolution 1267 Consolidated List. He also noted that the issue of terrorists imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay could be "touched upon" during the sub-dialogue. Yao recommended that the CT Sub-Dialogue meet two or three weeks after the Chinese New Year holiday ends (February 12 for the MFA). -------------- Olympic Security and Protection -------------- ¶4. (C) Citing the upcoming Olympics as China's most important and immediate CT concern, Yao said China hopes the United States can provide detailed information on Olympics-related terrorist threats and help establish a "rapid information sharing mechanism" as well as grant the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) access to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) CT threat database. Yao specifically requested information concerning terrorist organizations or individuals that might attack or threaten: --The U.S. Olympic delegation or any other countries' delegations; --The Olympics as a whole and any related events; and --International flights arriving in Beijing in connection with the Olympics. ¶5. (C) Yao said China proposes establishing a bilateral "rapid information sharing mechanism" during the Games to coordinate CT efforts better and share CT-related information more quickly and efficiently. He said China would like this mechanism to become a permanent tool for use after the Olympics as well. -------------- U.S.-China CT Cooperation and Training -------------- ¶6. (C) Reviewing successful U.S.-China CT collaboration on the Container Security Initiative (CSI),Megaports Initiative and Air Marshals training, Yao said China wants to "enhance" this cooperation. Yao specifically requested "regularized" annual Air Marshal training. Yao said China also hopes to strengthen collaboration on the CSI and the Megaports Initiative, but he did not say how frequently training could occur. -------------- -------------- A New Strategy for Inclusion of ETLO on UN 1267 List -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Yao said China believes the information supporting the inclusion of the East Turkestan Liberation Organization (ETLO) on the Sanctions Committee's Consolidated List is "very convincing." He also said China understands the concerns of the United States, the United Kingdom and France, which are blocking ETLO's inclusion on the list. As such, China is ready to adopt a "middle" or "step-by-step" approach to put aside "temporarily" the nomination for ETLO's inclusion as a group. Instead, China might propose including certain individuals associated with ETLO as well as some associated with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) on the Consolidated List. ¶8. (C) Yao said China has new information and evidence to support the inclusion of individuals associated with ETLO on the sanctions list but wants to hear an unofficial U.S. response to this new "middle" strategy before sharing the information. When asked if China has any new information or evidence to share to support their nomination of ETLO as an organization, Yao said there have been internal discussions on what kind of information could be provided and how it should be provided. Yao said that since the ETIM is already included BEIJING 00000038 002 OF 002 on the sanctions list, China believes it should be easy for the United States to approve nominations of individuals associated with the group. ACTION REQUEST: Please advise how to respond to the Chinese request for an "unofficial response" to their proposed "middle" strategy.