BEIJING-BASED G-5 CHIEFS OF MISSION ON XINJIANG,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002062 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF ECON CH FR JA GM UK SUBJECT: BEIJING-BASED G-5 CHIEFS OF MISSION ON XINJIANG, RIO TINTO, SINO-FRENCH, UK, AND JAPAN RELATIONS, TAIWAN PARTICIPATION IN BOOK FAIR Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission William Weinstein. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) At the regular meeting of G-5 Ambassadors in Beijing July 17, French Ambassador Ladsous reported that during French National Day, he spoke with a Chinese Vice Minister who said Xinjiang was "just like Tibet" and implied France "best keep quiet." On Rio Tinto, Ladsous reported that he heard the Chinese had conducted large-scale efforts to gain information on the negotiations, so their hands "were not clean." British Ambassador Sir William Ehrman reported that Rio Tinto was a British company with HQ in London and that Rio Tinto had decided to pursue the incident on a consular basis, leaving Australia in the lead. On Sino-French relations, French Ambassador Ladsous reported that President Sarkozy met with State Councilor Dai Bingguo at the G-8 summit in Italy and suggested a possible visit by Hu Jintao to Paris next year. Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto reported that the Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Admiral Keiji Akahoshi would visit China on August 13, at which time Japan hoped to establish a naval hotline. German Ambassador Dr. Michael Schaefer reported that a dispute had emerged over Taiwan's participation in the October 14-18 Frankfurt Book Fair under the name "Taiwan" and, until China and Taiwan resolved the issue, China's participation in the book fair was uncertain. End Summary. Participants -------------- ¶2. (C) Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto hosted German Ambassador Dr. Michael Schaefer, UK Ambassador Sir William Ehrman, French Ambassador Herve Ladsous and Acting DCM July 17 for the regular gathering of Beijing-based G-5 Chiefs of Mission. Xinjiang -------------- ¶3. (C) French Ambassador Ladsous reported that during French National Day he spoke with a Chinese Vice Minister who said Xinjiang was "just like Tibet" and implied France "best keep quiet." German Ambassador Dr. Michael Schaefer confirmed that protestors had thrown Molotov cocktails at the Chinese consulate in Munich, causing minor damage to the building but burning the Chinese flag. China had made representations urging Germany to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and dignity of Chinese diplomats and bring the perpetrators to justice. Schaefer said China alleged that a Uighur tour group in Germany had been attacked by a Chinese tour group, but Germany was un-able to verify this information. Rio Tinto -------------- ¶4. (C) French Ambassador Ladsous reported that he heard the Chinese had conducted large-scale efforts to gain information on the negotiations, so their hands "were not clean." He said that he would consult with the Australian Embassy, because they were concerned about the naturalized Chinese staff in police custody. British Ambassador Sir William Ehrman reported that Rio Tinto was a British company with Headquarters in London. In a meeting with the company's CEO in London, Ehrman said that Rio Tinto told him they had decided to pursue the incident on a consular basis, with Australia taking the lead. Sino-French relations -------------- ¶5. (C) Ambassador Ladsous reported that President Sarkozy met with State Councilor Dai Bingguo at the G-8 summit in Italy and suggested a possible visit by Hu Jintao to Paris next year. The French Minister for Budget Eric Woerth was recently in China and signed the first agreement on cooperation for anti- money laundering efforts. The French Ambassador also reported several upcoming visits including: the President's Chief Diplomatic Adviser Jean-David Levitte who planned to meet with State Councilor Dai Bingguo on September 2, French Economy, Industry and Employment Minister Christine Lagarde who planned to visit China before the G-20 in Pittsburgh and French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo who planned to visit China in the fall. Ladsous also reported that French Secretary for Human Rights Rama Yade was BEIJING 00002062 002 OF 002 scheduled to meet with the Dalai Lama when he next visits France. Sino-UK relations -------------- ¶6. (C) British Ambassador Sir William Ehrman reported that Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Secretary for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband, and First Secretary of State Lord Mandelson all planned to visit China in the first week of August. Chief of the Air Staff Sir Glenn Torpy planned to visit China in October, while Trade Minister Lord Davies, Special Representative for Climate Change John Ashton, Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury Sir Nicholas Macpherson, and Head of the Diplomatic Service Sir Peter Ricke all planned to visit China in the fall. Sino-Japanese relations -------------- ¶7. (C) Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto announced that the scheduled trilateral meeting between the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and China was cancelled due to elections in Japan. He also reported that the Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Admiral Keiji Akahoshi would visit China on August 13, at which time Japan hoped to sign an agreement to establish a naval hotline. The Japanese Ambassador also announced that he will take the first official trip by a Japanese Ambassador to Tibet in August. Taiwan Participation in Frankfurt Book Fair Under Dispute -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) German Ambassador Dr. Michael Schaefer reported that a dispute had emerged over Taiwan's participation in the October 14-18 Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest such fair, under the name "Taiwan." Currently the organizers had places such as Catalonia and Taiwan listed as stand alone entries. Until China and Taiwan resolved the issue, China's participation in the book fair including a visit by Vice President Xi Jinping was uncertain. GOLDBERG