CHINA PROTESTS PACOM ADMIRAL KEATING'S REMARKS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001348 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2034 TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CH IN SUBJECT: CHINA PROTESTS PACOM ADMIRAL KEATING'S REMARKS IN INDIA Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., William Weinstein. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) In a May 18 meeting, MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs Department Director General Zheng Zeguang delivered a formal demarche to the Charge protesting remarks appearing in a Times of India article by Pacific Command (USPACOM) Commander Admiral Keating. Admiral Keating is quoted in the article as saying, "emboldened by its growing maritime might, China even suggested to the U.S. that it could 'look after' the eastern Pacific while Washington concentrated on the western Pacific. But I shot down the proposal." ¶2. (C) DG Zheng said this article was "absolutely inconsistent with the facts" and warned that "these types of remarks could have bad repercussions." Stating that PRC policy had been to "always follow the path of peaceful development" and that its defense policy was "defensive in nature," Zheng said it would be "impossible" for any Chinese official to make the sort of suggestion described by Admiral Keating. For a USG official to suggest otherwise is "irresponsible." ¶3. (C) Noting the POSITIVE direction of the U.S.-China relationship and recent successes in mil-mil relations, Zheng urged the U.S. to "take the demarche seriously" and "take immediate steps" to reduce the impact of the remarks lest further damage result. The Charge noted that China's protest referenced an Indian press story for which we could not vouch, but said he would relay China's concerns. ¶4. (C) Comment: DG Zheng, reading from a text, delivered the demarche in an almost perfunctory manner. WEINSTEIN