Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON75
2008-01-09 11:41:00
SECRET
Embassy London
Cable title:
UK ALSO KEEN FOR ANSWERS ON CHINESE ASAT TEST
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #0075 0091141 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 091141Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6935 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 2610 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0750 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1099 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3106 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 3586 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0530 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0498 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1102 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0986 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2516 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0122 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1173 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0307 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
S E C R E T LONDON 000075
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC MARR CH UK
SUBJECT: UK ALSO KEEN FOR ANSWERS ON CHINESE ASAT TEST
REF: STATE 1265
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Richard LeBaron, reasons 1.4, b/d.
(S) HMG shares U.S. concerns about the 2007 Chinese
anti-satellite test as well as Beijing's lack of explanation
about the test and its ASAT policy in general, British
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Director for Defense
and Strategic Threats Simon Manley assured Charge January 8.
In delivering reftel demarche, Charge urged HMG to support
U.S. efforts to obtain some explanation from Beijing. Manley
committed to echoing U.S. concerns to the PRC at the first
opportunity and noted that the U.S. and UK embassies in
Beijing should stay in touch in order to develop the
strongest possible counterarguments to the Chinese responses.
Manley also suggested the Russians be approached for
support. Given Moscow's collusion with the Chinese on the
Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) issues, the
Russians might be persuaded that Chinese activities further
alienate already skeptical countries, such as the United
States.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
LeBaron