CHINA INFORMED SYRIAN ENTITY SEEKING HIGH-GRADE

S E C R E T BEIJING 000202 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, ISN/MTR JOHN PAUL HERMANN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2034 TAGS: PARM PREL MTCRE MNUC ETTC TSPA SY CH SUBJECT: CHINA INFORMED SYRIAN ENTITY SEEKING HIGH-GRADE ALUMINUM FROM A CHINESE FIRM REF: STATE 4104 Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling. Reason s 1.4 (B/C/D) ¶1. (S) After noting continued "unavailability" of MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department officials to meet with PolOffs since the October 3 announcement of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the Charge shared reftel non-paper informing China of attempts by a Syrian entity of proliferation concern to purchase 2024-T6 aluminum from a Chinese company with MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs Department Director General Zheng Zeguang on January 22. The Charge urged restoration of working-level nonproliferation cooperation to allow the timely sharing of vital information. DG Zheng accepted the information and agreed to pass it on to the Director General of the Arms Control and Disarmament Department. PICCUTA