JUNE 2 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: NORTH KOREA RELATIONS, PSI,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001468 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH KN KS JP BR SUBJECT: JUNE 2 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: NORTH KOREA RELATIONS, PSI, TIANANMEN, GUANTANAMO BAY UIGHURS ¶1. Key points at the June 2 MFA press briefing: -- Asked about reports that China canceled official exchanges with North Korea, the spokesperson said that China and North Korea "always have normal people to people exchanges." -- Asked whether China and North Korea remained allies, Qin repeated that China and North Korea had "normal state to state relations" and said that China's policy and position toward North Korea was "clear." -- China "understood the concerns and agreed with the goals of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) partner countries," said Qin. However, China was concerned that the PSI "did not rule out going past international law" to combat proliferation. -- The Chinese Communist Party and government had "already reached an unequivocal conclusion" on the "political incident of the late 1980s and related issues." The past three decades had witnessed the "remarkable success" of socialism with Chinese characteristics. North Korean Nuclear Test -------------- ¶2. China was always firmly devoted to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, said spokesperson Qin Gang at the June 2 regularly scheduled MFA press briefing. China also opposed nuclear proliferation and supported the peace and stability of the Northeast Asia region. Qin referred reporters to the May 25 Foreign Ministry Statement and said that China hoped all parties would remain calm, proceed with the interests of peace and stability in mind and do nothing to worsen the situation. Asked about reports that China had canceled official exchanges with North Korea, Qin said that China and North Korea "always had normal people to people exchanges." Regarding NPC Standing Committee Vice Chair Chen Zhili's planned June visit to North Korea, Qin said that "due to conflicts in her schedule" the visit would be postponed. Asked whether China and North Korea remained allies, Qin repeated that China and North Korea had "normal state to state relations" and said that China's policy and position toward North Korea was "clear." Asked about the sixtieth anniversary of relations between North Korea and China, Qin referred reporters to the May 25 Foreign Ministry Statement (Note: That statement did not mention the anniversary). As a "neighbor and signatory" to the 1953 armistice ending hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, Qin said that China had "taken note" of North Korea's announcement that its army was no longer bound by the agreement. The United Nations Security Council Response should be "helpful" to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peace and stability of the region. Qin also said that he had no information about the reported trip to China by Deputy Secretary Steinberg. Proliferation Security Initiative -------------- ¶3. China "understood the concerns and agreed with the goals of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) partner countries," said Qin. However, China was concerned that the PSI "did not rule out going past international law" to combat proliferation. Qin noted that "China and other countries" felt that some stipulations of the PSI were "outside the framework of international law." Qin emphasized that China's lack of participation in PSI "did not impede China's cooperation on non-proliferation." China "firmly opposed the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," said Qin. Tiananmen Massacre -------------- ¶4. Asked about the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the June 4 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, Qin said that the Chinese Communist Party and government had "already reached an unequivocal conclusion" on the "political incident of the late 1980s and related issues." The past three decades had witnessed the "remarkable success" of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This development was the will of the Chinese people and "in their fundamental interest." Asked why previous MFA press briefing official transcripts failed to record discussion of the massacre, Qin said that the MFA press conferences were "open and transparent." Asked whether China would permit 1989 era exiles to return to China, Qin responded that the Chinese government would handle the issue "according to entry/exit regulations." Guantanamo Bay Uighurs -------------- ¶5. China "had made representations" to the Australian government regarding reports that it might accept Uighurs who were imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay. China was firmly opposed to any foreign country accepting the "Eastern Turkistan suspects," said the spokesperson. BEIJING 00001468 002 OF 002 The suspects should be returned to China, he added. Taiwan -------------- ¶6. Asked about the meeting between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ma Ying-jeou, Qin said that China "hoped that the United States would properly and prudently handle the issue and avoid two Chinas or one China and one Taiwan." Missing Air France Flight -------------- ¶7. "Our hearts go out to the victims" of the missing Air France flight, lost en route from Brazil to Paris, said Qin. Qin noted that the fate of the plane "had not yet been confirmed." Upon learning of the event, the MFA "immediately instructed" its embassies in France and Brazil to contact relevant authorities and ascertain relevant details. Nine passengers on the flight were Chinese citizens, said Qin. The MFA and Chinese missions would stay in close contact with the governments of Brazil and France and had set up a consular protection emergency hotline, added the spokesperson. Dalai Lama -------------- ¶8. "Dalai was a long exiled separatist who conducted separatist activities aimed at splitting China," said Qin. China and the Chinese people firmly opposed "Dalai's" activities as well as any foreign officials conducting business with him. To deal with the Dalai Lama was to "grossly interfere with China's internal affairs" and would "affect bilateral relations." World Trade Organization -------------- ¶9. China had fulfilled its commitments to the World Trade Organization and its markets were "more open than those of some Western countries," said Qin. Qin noted that there had been "some friction" with the United States regarding trade, however "this did not represent overall bilateral relations." Sustained and growing trade between the United States and China was in the interests of the two peoples and the entire world, said Qin. Visit to Japan of Wang Qishan -------------- ¶10. The visit of Vice Premier Wang Qishan to Japan would have unusual significance given the "strategic and mutually beneficial relations" between Japan and China, said Qin. China hoped the visit would enhance dialogue and understanding and improve stability of financial markets. Blocking of Radio Free Asia -------------- ¶11. Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcasts were blocked in China because the RFA "always engaged in activities that interfered in China's internal affairs," said Qin. Asked if the BBC was being blocked for the same reasons, Qin said that he did not have any information on the issue but cautioned that the BBC should not interfere in China's internal affairs either. PICCUTA