INTERNATIONAL PIRACY COURT: CHINA SHARES U.S. CONCERNS

UNCLAS BEIJING 001657 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/PPA DAVID FORAN AND IO/UNP JOSEPH FITZGERALD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL CH SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL PIRACY COURT: CHINA SHARES U.S. CONCERNS REF: STATE 58579 This cable is Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) and for official use only. Not for transmission outside USG channels. Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) China shared U.S. concerns about creating an international piracy court, MFA Treaty and Law Department International Law Division Deputy Director Xu Yu told PolOff June 17 in response to reftel points urging China's support for the U.S. position opposing the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute piracy suspects. Xu said national court systems should play the primary role in prosecuting piracy suspects. If an international mechanism were created, it should complement rather than replace national court systems in prosecuting pirates. Xu said China shared "most U.S. views," including concerns about the resources anQlengthy timeline necessary to establish an international piracy court. PICCUTA