Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING2720
2009-09-22 23:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

SEPTEMBER 22 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UIGHUR LEADER, JOURNALITS

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM MNUC PARM SENV CH KN KS JP RS 
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OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2720/01 2652318
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 222318Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6176
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002720 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MNUC PARM SENV CH KN KS JP RS
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 22 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UIGHUR LEADER, JOURNALITS
BEATEN, DAI DPRK VISIT, JAPAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002720

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MNUC PARM SENV CH KN KS JP RS
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 22 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: UIGHUR LEADER, JOURNALITS
BEATEN, DAI DPRK VISIT, JAPAN


1. Key points at the September 22 MFA press briefing:

-- Dolkun Isa, the Uighur leader recently refused entry into South
Korea, was suspected of various crimes and wanted by Chinese and
international police

-- The MFA passed along the concerns of Kyodo journalists who said
they had been beaten in the Beijing Hotel by Chinese security forces
while they attempted to photograph rehearsals for the National Day
parade.

-- During his visit to North Korea, Presidential Envoy Dai Bingguo
exchanged views with North Korean leaders on bilateral relations,
denuclearization, peace and stability of North East Asia and
presented a letter from President Hu Jintao.

-- During Chinese President Hu Jintao's meeting with Japanese Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama on September 21 in New York, Hu presented a
five-point plan to develop bilateral relations.

-- China attached great importance to the United States' leading
role in tackling climate change and China looked forward to the
upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen.

World Uighur Congress Leader
--------------


2. Dolkun Isa, the Uighur leader recently refused entry into South
Korea, was the Secretary General of the World Uighur Congress and a
major leader of the East Turkistan Liberation Organization, said
spokesperson Jiang Yu at the regularly scheduled September 22 MFA
press conference. Isa was suspected of various crimes and wanted by
Chinese and international police. Jiang said that China had
contacted the South Korean Government to make its position on the
matter clear. Fighting East Turkistan organizations was an integral
part of the fight on terror, said Jiang. The international
community should work together to fight all terror including that
committed by East Turkistan organizations.

Kyodo Journalists Beaten
--------------


3. The MFA passed along the concerns of Kyodo journalists who said
they had been beaten in the Beijing Hotel by Chinese security forces

while they attempted to photograph rehearsals for the National Day
parade, said Jiang. The police had not yet reported back to the MFA
so Jiang was unclear whether any violence had taken place. Jiang
said that she "understood" foreign journalists' wish to cover the
National Day ceremony and would actively coordinate with journalists
to ensure smooth coverage. However, "in keeping with international
practice," during major events China would adopt "temporary measures
as needed." Both the Chinese government and the Beijing Hotel had
informed the journalists not to film the rehearsals. However, the
journalists had disobeyed. Whatever the reason for the event,
however, Jiang said that she "felt sorry" about the unpleasantness.
Jiang encouraged journalists to be patient with police and comply
with regulations. The regulations were designed to ensure
journalists were given a "splendid show." Pressed, the spokesperson
did not specify what the punishment for not obeying regulations was.


North Korea Travel
--------------


4. During his visit to North Korea, Presidential Envoy Dai Bingguo
exchanged views with North Korean leaders on bilateral relations,
denuclearization, peace and stability of North East Asia and
presented a letter from President Hu Jintao. The two sides agreed
to strengthen cooperation in all fields and to promote bilateral
relations. The spokesperson stressed that as a "close neighbor of
the Korean Peninsula" China would closely follow denuclearization
there. The resolution of these issues through dialogue was the
consistent policy of China and the Six-Party Talks were a good means
to have dialogue. China hoped that all parties would work together
to promote denuclearization. The spokesperson had no information to
release regarding a rumored visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to North
Korea in early October.


Hu Jintao on Japan
--------------


5. During Chinese President Hu Jintao's meeting with Japanese Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama on September 21 in New York, Hu stressed the
importance of China-Japan bilateral relations to both countries,
said Jiang. China was ready to work with Japan to achieve mutually
beneficial relations, Hu told Hatoyama. Hu made five proposals for
the improvement of relations: 1. Strengthen high-level contact, 2.
Strengthen business ties, 3. Strengthen people to people exchanges

BEIJING 00002720 002 OF 002



4. Strengthen cooperation in East Asian affairs to support
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and encourage dialogue on
critical global issues such as the financial crisis, climate change
and energy, and, 5. Properly handle disputes. It was natural to
have disputes but the two sides should focus on the larger issues Hu
told Hatoyama. History and Taiwan were real issues in the
relationship and China hoped that Japan would honor its commitments
and properly handle these issues.


6. Asked about Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's proposal for an East
Asian Community, Jiang said that strengthening regional cooperation
was the "trend of the times" and China hoped that all countries
would promote political mutual trust and seek "win-win"
relationships.

Hu Jintao on Climate Change
--------------


7. President Hu would attend the UN Climate Change Summit on Tuesday
in New York, said Jiang. China attached great importance to the
United States' leading role in tackling climate change, the
international community should work together on the issue and China
looked forward to the upcoming climate change conference in
Copenhagen, she added. China also hoped the Copenhagen conference
would allow countries to build consensus and inject political
importance to the fight against climate change.

Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament
--------------


8. China hoped the upcoming UN Summit on Nuclear Nonproliferation
and Disarmament would explore practical ways to strengthen
nonproliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear power,
said the spokesperson. Asked about press reports about past
China-Pakistan cooperation on nuclear development, Jiang said that
China had always been committed to its obligations as a member of
the Non-Proliferation Treaty and opposed all forms of nuclear
proliferation.

Japan, China, South Korea Talks
--------------


9. China, Japan and South Korea were consulting on the specific
dates for a three-way meeting among leaders.

Tibet Closure
--------------


10. The spokesperson had not heard reports that Tibet would be
closed to foreign tourists during the National Day celebrations and
referred reporters to the Tibet foreign affairs office.

Russian Leaders
--------------


11. The spokesperson had no official information regarding a rumored
visit by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Beijing in early
October. Jiang noted that 2009 marked the 60th anniversary of
bilateral relations between China and Russia and a celebratory
conference would be held to commemorate the event. President Hu
would meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on September 23 in New
York. During the meeting Hu and Medvedev would discuss the
China-Russia strategic partnership, the future of bilateral
relations, international and regional issues and other issues of
common interest.

Global Economy
--------------


12. The global economy was stabilizing but a complete recovery would
be a long process, said Jiang. Countries should coordinate their
macroeconomic policies. China would continue to push forward with
its stimulus package.

News Assistants Cyber Targets
--------------


13. Recent foreign media reports suggested that Beijing-based
foreign correspondents and their local assistants had been targeted
by emails laden with malicious computer software in attacks tied to
the run-up to the National Day military parade on October 1. In
response to a reporter's questions, Jiang claimed that she had not
heard reports that news assistants were becoming targets of emails
containing malicious code.

HUNTSMAN