SHIELD S13-08: CHINA SEEKS MORE INFORMATION OF PRC

S E C R E T BEIJING 001253 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/CB AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2034 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC CH IR SUBJECT: SHIELD S13-08: CHINA SEEKS MORE INFORMATION OF PRC FIRMS PROVIDING TRAINING TO IRAN REF: A. BEIJING 1204 ¶B. STATE 4482 Classified By: Regional Unit Chief Mark Lambert. Reasons 1.4 (b),(c) and (d). ¶1. (S) In response to Ref A demarche, urging China to investigate and prevent a group of employees from Zhejiang Material Industries Chemical Group and Shanxi Weiqida Pharmaceuticals Company from traveling to Iran to provide technical training and expertise, MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Biological and Chemical Weapons Division Desk Officer Jiang Bo contacted POLOFF on May 11 seeking further information. Specifically, Jiang asked: --for more information about the two companies named in the demarche, their addresses and contact information of key officers. --names of the Chinese nationals who intend to travel to Iran. --the name and address of the factory or installation in Iran to which the Chinese experts intend to travel. --names of the types of products being manufactured at the Iranian factory that cause concern for the United States Government. --Whether any of the products being manufactured are on proscribed lists. ¶2. (S) Jiang said that his office takes U.S. concerns seriously and wishes to help Chinese law enforcement organs investigate the case. In addition, Jiang underscored the PRC's long-standing opposition to the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA) and other domestic laws that allow the United States to impose sanctions on individuals or entities who have transferred to acquired from countries of concern items that are on multilateral export control lists. PICCUTA