S E C R E T BEIJING 000376

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND ISN/MTR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MTCRE ETTC MNUC TSPA CH IR
SUBJECT: MFA URGED TO INVESTIGATE IRANIAN MISSILE
DELEGATION IN CHINA

REF: STATE 12231

Classified By: PolMinCouns Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (S) PolOff delivered reftel non-paper urging China to
investigate the activities of a three-person Iranian
delegation traveling in China that might be engaged in the
illegal procurement of missile technology to MFA Arms Control
and Disarmament Department Missile Division Second Secretary
Zhang Ze on February 13. PolOff noted the time-sensitive
nature of the information, pointing out that the MFA's
unwillingness to meet to discuss the issue in a timely
fashion meant that the three individuals were probably no
longer in China.


2. (S) Zhang responded that China "takes its responsibilities
to control missile proliferation seriously," and promised to
relay the information to the appropriate authorities. PolOff
underscored the importance of Iran in Sino-American relations
and urged Zhang to report back with the results of the
Chinese investigation.
PICCUTA