CHINA WELCOMES BILATERAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 002194 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, ISN/CB AND VCI/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CH JP SUBJECT: CHINA WELCOMES BILATERAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION CONSULTATIONS REF: STATE 79502 Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel nonpaper and demarche accepting China's longstanding invitation to hold Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) consultations in China to MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Chemical and Biological Weapons Division Deputy Director Yu Dunhai on August 3. Yu said the invitation for CWC consultations, though "very long-standing," was still valid, and "China welcomes this opportunity for consultations." ¶2. (C) Yu noted the proposed October timeframe and said China would propose specific dates and respond to the proposed agenda "as soon as possible." Regarding the request from the United States that Japan be included in the visit to the abandoned chemical weapons storage site in Nanjing, Yu asked if Japanese inclusion was required for the United States to be willing to visit the site. GOLDBERG