CNO ADM ROUGHEAD DISCUSSES MIL-MIL TIES, PIRACY,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001095 SIPDIS PACOM FOR FPA AMB CHRISTY E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2034 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PBTS PHSA CH KN SUBJECT: CNO ADM ROUGHEAD DISCUSSES MIL-MIL TIES, PIRACY, DPRK WITH VFM HE YAFEI Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Aubrey Carlson, reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) In an April 18 meeting with Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Gary Roughead, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said China adhered to the principle of peaceful development and noted that the PLA Navy (PLAN) had been expanding to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ADM Roughead expressed hope for improved military-to-military relations, including expanded opportunities for personnel exchanges. VFM He noted that mil-mil ties were an important component of a healthy relationship and that our militaries needed to understand that they were not enemies. The CNO thanked China for the "significant contribution" of its counter-piracy naval task force and noted that U.S. and Chinese task force commanders had visited one another and regularly exchanged information. VFM He emphasized that the United States and China should handle sensitive issues carefully and "manage" problems when they arose. ADM Roughead said it was "clear" that the U.S. interpretation of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was different from China's, and VFM He suggested that the disagreement be resolved perhaps through dialogue or through developing a "zone of comfortableness." VFM He said the UN Security Council statement condemning North Korea's missile launch had been "strong" and "tough" but would not prevent a return to the Six-Party Talks, although the Talks would be "on hold for some months." VFM He stated that the PLA had not been affected by the global economic crisis in that there had been no military budget cuts. End Summary. 60th Anniversary of PLA Navy -------------- ¶2. (S) In an April 18 meeting with Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Gary Roughead congratulated the PLA Navy (PLAN) on its 60th anniversary (celebrated with an international Fleet Review in Qingdao, Shandong Province, April 21-24). VFM He said the PLAN had been expanding to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and that its posture was "defensive." China, VFM He continued, adhered to the principle of peaceful development and it had reaped the benefits of globalization. ADM Roughead thanked PLAN commander ADM Wu Shengli for extending the privilege of riding with ADM Wu in his aircraft to the 60th anniversary celebrations in Qingdao. The CNO remarked that the plane did not have room for their respective staff aides and this would give both navy chiefs the opportunity to talk more openly and build their relationship. "That is a good thing," replied VFM He. Military-to-Military Ties -------------- ¶3. (S) VFM He stated that military-to-military cooperation was a "very important component" of the overall U.S.-China relationship and that without mil-mil ties the relationship would not be "healthy." China supported military exchanges and wanted to expand mil-mil ties, since this would be conducive to reducing suspicions, he said. ADM Roughead said he "could not agree more" and expressed hope that exchange opportunities for "young people" would be expanded. This way, officers would meet on operational bases, sailors could mix, and ideas could be exchanged. The CNO urged VFM He to expand the number of ports available for U.S. Navy (USN) ship visits to facilitate this kind of exchange. VFM He responded that he was "all for" more direct exchange between lower-ranking personnel and that our militaries needed to understand that they were not enemies. Trust and confidence were "important," he underscored. ¶4. (S) ADM Roughead said that there were many opportunities ahead to build mil-mil ties and noted that he had invited PLAN commander ADM Wu to the October 2009 sea power symposium. The CNO remarked that the U.S.-China Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) was a good vehicle to discuss cooperation and work more closely. Mil-mil ties were in the "best interest of both countries," said the CNO, and navies were suited to expanding such ties because they operated in the international domain on "neutral" territory. BEIJING 00001095 002 OF 003 Counter-Piracy Cooperation -------------- ¶5. (S) ADM Roughead said U.S.-China cooperation in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia was a "terrific example" of two navies working together toward a common goal. When cooperating in fighting pirates, the USN and PLAN were not focused on the United States or China, but on a common effort to keep the sea lanes safe. He thanked China for its naval task force, which had made a "significant contribution" to the overall counter-piracy effort, and said he appreciated the dispatch of a second task force. VFM He noted the "costly" nature of such deployments and asked if there had been direct contact between the USN and the PLAN in the theater. The CNO responded that there had "absolutely" been contact, that U.S. and Chinese task forces had visited one another and had regularly exchanged information. ADM Roughead said that the cooperation could be expanded with an exchange of liaison officers. ¶6. (S) Asked about the spike in piracy over the past weeks, ADM Roughead responded that the two principal reasons were better weather and more money in the hands of pirates because of the "business of piracy." The CNO noted that more money enabled the pirates to acquire better boats and operate farther off the coast and farther south in search of ships to hijack. Counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to the north, he said, had been effective. The CNO predicted that piracy would be around for some time to come and would not be solved at sea. Countering piracy was challenging without rule of law on land and involved developing governance ashore and freezing the "money flows." Managing Disagreements -------------- ¶7. (S) VFM He emphasized that the United States and China should carefully handle sensitive issues, including Taiwan, and "manage" problems when they arose. He said it was difficult for the Chinese government to explain to the people why the USN operated in China's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The people had a "strong reaction" to such issues and were "not comfortable" when there was another nation's military close to China's shore. VFM He said he worried that these sorts of disagreements could "drive the two peoples apart." He referenced the March USNS Impeccable incident and asked what both sides could do to avoid another such confrontation. ¶8. (S) ADM Roughead said it was clear that the U.S. interpretation of the laws applicable to an EEZ were different from China's and that he was not sure that situation would change. He explained that people in the United States asked similar questions about China's actions, since the U.S. side was operating in the international domain on the high seas. VFM He suggested that the disagreement be solved perhaps through dialogue or through developing a "zone of comfortableness." The CNO said increased mil-mil ties resulted in fewer opportunities for frictions and misunderstandings. During the Impeccable incident, the Defense Telephone Link had proved useful because he had been able to call ADM Wu directly and have a frank exchange of views. The CNO said the MMCA could also be a "means of dialogue," and it would be helpful if China considered the Pacific Command's MMCA request. North Korea -------------- ¶9. (S) ADM Roughead asked for China's assessment of the recent North Korean Taepodong II missile launch. VFM He noted U.S.-China cooperation in this area and said that the UN Security Council statement condemning the launch had been "strong" and "tough" but would not destroy the prospect of a return to the Six-Party Talks or destabilize the region. He noted that North Korea had acted similarly in 1993 and 2000 and that Pyongyang's "number one goal" was to engage the United States and normalize relations. The Vice Foreign Minister said China appreciated the "low-key" U.S. government response to the DPRK reaction to the UNSC statement. ¶10. (S) VFM He said that the Six-Party Talks would be "on BEIJING 00001095 003 OF 003 hold for some months" but that they were "not dead." The talks were the only workable platform for the North Korea issue, and "we have been talking with both Washington and Pyongyang," asking for restraint. The worst-case scenario, he continued, was new sanctions and finger-pointing, which could result in more missile tests or even a nuclear test. "We should keep cool for a little while" but then reengage; the United States should initiate dialogue and reach out to the DPRK. He noted that the New York channel was tellingly still open. Plans for the 60th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean relationship had been unaffected, and this was a sign that North Korea was "not that hotheaded," He said. "Things will change in a few months, but we have to be careful," stated VFM He. Naval Budgets and the Economic Crisis -------------- ¶11. (S) In response to a question about the economic crisis' effect on U.S. military spending, ADM Roughead said the United States had a "heavily involved" armed forces and the Navy's budget had increased compared with 2008. The CNO noted that retention had increased as a result of the crisis and said he expected next year's budget would be "pressurized." ADM Roughead mentioned that he aimed to properly shape the USN for the challenges of the future, including creating new classes of warships better suited to the threats the United States faced. ¶12. (S) When ADM Roughead asked about the economic crisis' effect on the Chinese military, the Vice Foreign Minister said that "all in all, China is alright" and that the PLA had not been affected. There had been no military budget cuts, but no major increases either, he said. China was more "insulated" from the crisis because its capital account was not open, noted VFM He. The "real economy," however, had "suffered a lot" because China was "too export dependent." With the Chinese government's "timely intervention" in the form of a large stimulus package, he continued, there were now signs of recovery. Provided that the United States, major European countries, and Japan did not see another major downturn, China might see 8-percent GDP growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2009. ¶13. (U) ADM Roughead cleared this message. PICCUTA