JUNE 16 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: USS JOHN MCCAIN, KIM JONG-IL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001626

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF CH GJ JA KN KS SENV

SUBJECT: JUNE 16 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: USS JOHN MCCAIN, KIM JONG-IL
SONS, UNSCR 1874


1. Key points at the June 16 MFA press briefing:

-- China had "taken note" of media reports regarding a June 11th
collision between a Chinese submarine and a sonar array trailed by
the destroyer USS John McCain.

-- The spokesperson said China was "not aware of the relevant
situation" when asked about reports indicating that Kim Jong-il's
son Kim Jong-un had recently visited Beijing.

-- UN Security Council Resolution 1874 "had explicit provisions"
and, China, "like other parties would earnestly implement the
resolution."

-- China "firmly opposed the accusations" made by a U.S. Department
of State spokesperson regarding China's efforts to protect the
rights of laborers.

Chinese Submarine Collision with Sonar Array
--------------


2. China had "taken note" of media reports regarding a June 11th
collision between a Chinese submarine and a sonar array trailed by
the destroyer USS John McCain, said spokesperson Qin Gang at the
June 16 regular MFA press briefing. Qin said that the submarine
"accidentally collided" with the sonar array the while conducting
"normal exercises." He added the MFA had not received a report
detailing the situation.

Activities of Kim Jong-il Sons in China
--------------


3. Asked repeatedly to confirm reports indicating that Kim Jong-il's
son Kim Jong-un had recently visited Beijing and met with Hu Jintao
and other leaders, Qin consistently responded, "We are not aware of
the relevant situation." The same answer was given to follow-up
questions asking whether Kim Jong-il's eldest son Kim Jong-nan had
suffered an attempted assassination attempt in China.

UNSCR 1874 and Six-Party Talks
--------------


4. UN Security Council Resolution 1874 "had explicit provisions"
and, China, "like other parties would earnestly implement the
resolution," said the spokesperson when asked whether China was
willing to search North Korean ships. China also hoped that
relevant parties would remain calm and restrained, use dialogue and
refrain from actions that could cause the situation on the Korean
Peninsula to deteriorate. Asked why China had not called for a
resumption of the Six-Party Talks recently, the spokesperson
responded that the issue "can only be solved through dialogue and
political means." China was ready to work with all parties to
promote a peaceful resolution, said Qin.

Chinese Labor Practices
--------------


5. China "firmly opposed the accusations" made by a U.S. Department
of State spokesperson regarding China's efforts to protect the
rights of laborers. "China attached great importance to protecting
the rights of laborers," said Qin. Qin listed minimum wage, child
labor and discrimination regulations that had been put in place to
protect laborers. Following the start of the financial crisis,
China took measures to stimulate the economy and increase
consumption which would ultimately help workers. China was still a
developing country and might "lag behind" some developed countries
on labor rights, admitted Qin. However "plausible and reasonable"
the State Department spokesperson's comments might seem, said Qin,
it was important to remember where the financial crisis started.
Qin asked rhetorically what the State Department spokesperson would
say to the many innocent workers and countries who were victims of
the financial crisis. "If you make a mistake, you should stop
pointing fingers at others," said Qin.

April Decline in China purchase of U.S. Treasury Bills
-------------- --------------


6. Asked to explain why China's purchase of U.S. Treasury Bills
decreased in April and whether this reflected declined confidence in
the U.S. Dollar, Qin replied that China's foreign reserve was
operated according to the principles of "security, liquidity, and
good value, in accordance to need." The timing and quantity of
T-Bill purchases were based on those principles, and specific
questions should be referred to "relevant authorities."

Iran Election and unrest
--------------


BEIJING 00001626 002 OF 002



7. Asked about the recent election and unrest in Iran, Qin responded
that China hoped the "solidarity and stability" of the country could
be maintained.

EU acceptance of Chinese terrorist suspects
--------------


8. In response to a question about EU countries accepting Chinese
citizen Guantanamo Bay detainees, Qin stated that China "firmly
opposed" transferring Chinese "terrorist suspects" to any third
country.

Additional Indian Military Planes on Border
--------------


9. Qin was "unaware" of reports that India had deployed military
planes to regions bordering China. Developing a "comprehensive
strategic partnership"" and promoting "good neighborliness" with
India was the "mutual consensus" reached by the two governments and
was the "aspiration of the two peoples." China's position on border
related issues was "consistent and clear." Qin expressed hope that
the two sides could work together to implement their "consensus" and
safeguard peace and tranquility to create proper conditions for a
"proper and reasonable settlement" of their border issues and
development of bilateral relations.

Visits
--------------


10. Turkish President Abdullah Gul planned to visit China from June
24-29. China's envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike would visit Egypt,
Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Russia from June 20 to
July 4. Asked whether the North Korean Defense Minister visited
China recently, Qin said that China and North Korea continued to
have people to people exchanges and referred reporters to the
Chinese Ministry of Defense.


PICCUTA