Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING1211
2009-05-06 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
PRC "OPPOSES" USNS VICTORIOUS PRESENCE IN CHINA'S
how-toVZCZCXRO7597 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #1211 1261143 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061143Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3839 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001211
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2029
TAGS: PREL PBTS PARM PM CH
SUBJECT: PRC "OPPOSES" USNS VICTORIOUS PRESENCE IN CHINA'S
EEZ
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Dan Piccuta. Reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001211
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2029
TAGS: PREL PBTS PARM PM CH
SUBJECT: PRC "OPPOSES" USNS VICTORIOUS PRESENCE IN CHINA'S
EEZ
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Dan Piccuta. Reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for North
American and Oceanian Affairs Zheng Zeguang called the Charge
to meet for coffee May 6 and during that meeting expressed
"firm opposition" to the presence of the USNS Victorious in
China's Exclusive Economic Zone. Referring to statements by
the U.S. Department of Defense Spokesman May 5, Zheng noted
that the United States had publicly referred to harassment of
the USNS Victorious by Chinese fishing vessels and had said
that the United States and China will handle the issue
through diplomatic channels. Reading from several pages of
Chinese talking points, Zheng declared that it was "the
consistent position" of the PRC that ships carrying out
"scientific research" were subject to the UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea and Chinese law and regulations. The
operations of the USNS Victorious, Zheng said, were in
violation of those laws and regulations because the USNS
Victorious was not granted permission to conduct its
activities in the EEZ. China was firmly opposed to USNS
ships conducting activities in China's EEZ without
permission, and the United States should stop such activities
and prevent similar incidents in the future.
2. (C) Leaving his prepared script, Zheng stressed that it
was "in the interests of bilateral relations to handle these
cases through diplomatic channels." He said that, in the
event of an incident, the diplomatic channel was "always
open." Addressing this issue "through loudspeakers" was
"counterproductive, not constructive." Because of the press
coverage of the U.S. remarks, the Chinese side was "obliged"
to react, Zheng said. "From the reports, you can see it was
not the Chinese intention to have this kind of incident,"
Zheng added.
3. (C) Comment: The atmospherics, including Zheng's body
language and the setting of the demarche at a coffee shop
rather than a formal MFA meeting room, suggested that Zheng
wanted to play down the significance of the representation.
We believe the second set of points, in paragraph 2 above,
was the MFA's way of asking the United States to allow both
sides to finesse the EEZ issue by not publicizing encounters
between Chinese fishing boats and U.S. ships.
PICCUTA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2029
TAGS: PREL PBTS PARM PM CH
SUBJECT: PRC "OPPOSES" USNS VICTORIOUS PRESENCE IN CHINA'S
EEZ
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Dan Piccuta. Reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for North
American and Oceanian Affairs Zheng Zeguang called the Charge
to meet for coffee May 6 and during that meeting expressed
"firm opposition" to the presence of the USNS Victorious in
China's Exclusive Economic Zone. Referring to statements by
the U.S. Department of Defense Spokesman May 5, Zheng noted
that the United States had publicly referred to harassment of
the USNS Victorious by Chinese fishing vessels and had said
that the United States and China will handle the issue
through diplomatic channels. Reading from several pages of
Chinese talking points, Zheng declared that it was "the
consistent position" of the PRC that ships carrying out
"scientific research" were subject to the UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea and Chinese law and regulations. The
operations of the USNS Victorious, Zheng said, were in
violation of those laws and regulations because the USNS
Victorious was not granted permission to conduct its
activities in the EEZ. China was firmly opposed to USNS
ships conducting activities in China's EEZ without
permission, and the United States should stop such activities
and prevent similar incidents in the future.
2. (C) Leaving his prepared script, Zheng stressed that it
was "in the interests of bilateral relations to handle these
cases through diplomatic channels." He said that, in the
event of an incident, the diplomatic channel was "always
open." Addressing this issue "through loudspeakers" was
"counterproductive, not constructive." Because of the press
coverage of the U.S. remarks, the Chinese side was "obliged"
to react, Zheng said. "From the reports, you can see it was
not the Chinese intention to have this kind of incident,"
Zheng added.
3. (C) Comment: The atmospherics, including Zheng's body
language and the setting of the demarche at a coffee shop
rather than a formal MFA meeting room, suggested that Zheng
wanted to play down the significance of the representation.
We believe the second set of points, in paragraph 2 above,
was the MFA's way of asking the United States to allow both
sides to finesse the EEZ issue by not publicizing encounters
between Chinese fishing boats and U.S. ships.
PICCUTA