INTERNATIONAL NOTIFICATION OF U.S. SATELLITE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000197 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2028 TAGS: PARM KTIA TSPA SN CH SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL NOTIFICATION OF U.S. SATELLITE ENGAGEMENT REF: SECSTATE 17336 Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold for Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C/NF) The Ambassador took advantage of an opportunity on the margins of a separate meeting on February 21 to deliver to MFA Permanent Secretary Peter Ho the notification on U.S. satellite engagement contained in para 4 of reftel. Ho expressed appreciation for the information and asked if the United States had been sending a signal to China. The Ambassador used reftel language to make clear that the U.S. objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the appoximately 1,000 pounds of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered the earth's atmosphere. ¶2. (U) Post separately provided a written copy of the notification in reftel para 4 to MFA North America Division Director Ng Teck Hean on February 21. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm HERBOLD