Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING57
2009-01-08 09:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

DASD SEDNEY'S MEETING WITH COMMUNIST PARTY

Tags:  PREL MARR MASS CH AF XD SO RS TW KN IZ XA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2044
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #0057/01 0080944
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 080944Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1759
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0466
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0135
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000057 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2034
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS CH AF XD SO RS TW KN IZ XA
SUBJECT: DASD SEDNEY'S MEETING WITH COMMUNIST PARTY
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT VICE MINISTER ZHANG ZHIJUN

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000057

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2034
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS CH AF XD SO RS TW KN IZ XA
SUBJECT: DASD SEDNEY'S MEETING WITH COMMUNIST PARTY
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT VICE MINISTER ZHANG ZHIJUN

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Vice Minister of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
Central Committee International Department (CCID) Zhang
Zhijun told Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD)
David Sedney December 18 that China "treasures" its
relationship with the United States and considers the
U.S.-China relationship to be the "most important" of all its
bilateral relationships. He added that trade and economic
ties should "expand" and sensitive issues such as Tibet and
Taiwan should be "looked at carefully" by the United States.
Zhang asked whether China could expect a "timeframe" in which
the United States would agree to halt arms sales to Taiwan.
Zhang urged all parties to the Six-Party Talks on the North
Korea nuclear issue to continue to "show flexibility" and not
"lose patience" so that the Talks can continue. VM Zhang
declined to say whether China will purchase Russian Su-35
fighter planes and shared thoughts on Somali piracy,
Sino-Russian ties and Afghanistan. End Summary.

U.S.-China Military Relations
--------------


2. (C) VM Zhang told DASD Sedney that China "treasures" its
relationship with the United States and that it considers the
U.S.-China relationship to be the most important of all its
bilateral relationships. He expressed hope that the
relationship is further strengthened under the new
administration and that mutual trust will increase through
high-level exchanges.


3. (C) Trade and economic ties should expand, said Zhang, and
sensitive issues such as Tibet and Taiwan should be "looked
at carefully" by the United States. If such issues "harm the
core interests" of China, he noted, China must "respond and
react" so that these issues do not "explode." Exchange and
cooperation on international issues are key so that we avoid

misunderstandings and so that the "many shared interests" of
the United States and China can determine the future course
of the bilateral relationship, he noted. VM Zhang expressed
hope these interests would "continue to grow" under the new
administration.


4. (C) DASD Sedney emphasized the need to enhance the
bilateral strategic dialogue to avoid misunderstandings and
expand cooperation. Shared concerns on issues such as
piracy, terrorism and Pakistan's fragility need to be
discussed on a military as well as political level, he stated.

South Asia
--------------


5. (C) Progress toward "peace and stability" in South Asia is
a goal shared by the United States and China, agreed VM
Zhang. The priorities for the United States, as he
understands them, are multiple. The economy, wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and climate change seem to be at the
forefront of policymakers' agendas in Washington, claimed VM
Zhang, noting that all of these issues are long-term and will
take time to "manage."

Somali Piracy
--------------


6. (C) DASD Sedney and VM Zhang agreed that the piracy
situation off the Somali coast is worsening and is a major
international problem. Zhang claimed that some experts in
Washington have urged China not to send naval vessels to
Somalia, a point which Sedney was quick to counter by
pointing out that the United States Government "welcomes"
China's participation in the international effort to combat
piracy and was pleased to hear Vice Foreign Minister He
Yafei's recent comments in New York addressing ways in which
the international response could be coordinated.

Afghanistan
--------------


7. (C) DASD Sedney expressed Secretary Gates's belief that

BEIJING 00000057 002 OF 003


the only way to succeed in Afghanistan is to assist the
Afghan Government in providing security and stability for its
people. This issue represents a "common interest" between
China and the United States, he underscored. As the United
States sends more troops and increases civil military
cooperation across the country, it also "appreciates" China's
contributions to Afghanistan's reconstruction, such as its
investment in irrigation projects north of Kabul. China
wants to see peace and stability in Afghanistan, VM Zhang
replied, and "all efforts will be made" toward this
objective. China hopes that the United States will continue
its "consultation" with China on Afghanistan, said VM Zhang.

Taiwan
--------------


8. (C) Ideally, China would like the United States to cease
selling arms to Taiwan, said VM Zhang, but understands that
the sales continue "for historical reasons." VM Zhang asked
whether there is a specific "timeframe" during which China
could expect this behavior to end. Perhaps a compromise
could be "worked out" based on the 1982 Communique, he
suggested.


9. (C) The cross-Strait security situation over the past 30
years has been "generally positive," replied DASD Sedney,
adding that there has been an increase in cross-Strait ties
and that the steps taken in recent months have been
"encouraging" and represent an "historic opportunity" to
further develop those ties. VM Zhang agreed, noting that the
current situation is "what China has been pushing for," but
stated that the selling of arms by the United States violates
the one China policy as well as China's core interests.


10. (C) DASD Sedney replied that despite recent progress in
U.S-China relations, security cooperation lags behind other
facets of the relationship. The 1982 Communique was
predicated on a move toward a peaceful solution, but that
solution has not come, DASD Sedney said. On the one hand,
China is "reaching out" to Taiwan, he stressed, but on the
other, it is threatening to hit it with a "club."


11. (C) VM Zhang replied that China is a big country and that
every "sovereign nation" has a right to defend its territory.
He added that Taiwan is a part of China and it is impossible
to say that a "military balance" is needed between two parts
of the same country. Furthermore, said VM Zhang, China does
not want to see U.S. "involvement" in China's relationship
with Taiwan lest China be forced to "break off"
military-to-military relations. Sedney urged discussing
Taiwan in a "responsible and restrained" manner and working
toward a "peaceful resolution" of the issue.

Sino-Russian Ties, SCO
--------------


12. (C) Turning to Russia's "disproportionate" response to
the conflict in Georgia's South Ossetia region, DASD Sedney
suggested that this is the type of issue that the United
States and China should be discussing in strategic talks.
Russia feels it has been "pushed around" and that its
"strategic space" has been threatened, replied VM Zhang. The
solution, he added, is to engage Russia in a more
constructive way to build confidence and trust. VM Zhang
said he hopes to see improvements but that improvements
depend on "good cooperation."


13. (C) VM Zhang explained that the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) was created to establish a new concept of
security based on mutual trust on issues such as energy
cooperation and combating terrorism. The objective, he
added, is not to position China as a "counterweight" to
Russia in the former Soviet republics.

North Korea
--------------


14. (C) DASD Sedney expressed U.S. disappointment in the
latest (December) round of Six-Party Talks. VM Zhang replied
that China also wants to see "peace and stability" in the
region and that "substantial progress" has been made, China's
role has been "constructive," and it will continue its
efforts. It is important that all sides continue to "show

BEIJING 00000057 003 OF 003


flexibility" and not "lose patience," as there is "no other
way," he maintained. Past rounds have shown that during
times of stalemate, new efforts were applied and the talks
continued, VM Zhang added, so China "hopes that talks will
continue."

AFRICOM
--------------


15. (C) VM Zhang inquired about the mission for U.S. Africa
Command (AFRICOM),wondering whether it will focus on
combating terrorism, developing infrastructure, security
training, or other objectives. Defense Attache BG Hooper
replied that AFRICOM's role is to "build stability" on all
fronts, not just militarily. VM Zhang said he thought the
Pentagon was moving away from certain activities deemed
inappropriate for the military and wondered why AFRICOM is
taking on such a role.

Defense Funding
--------------


16. (C) When asked whether the United States will acquire
more F-22 fighter planes, DASD Sedney urged VM Zhang to
disclose whether or not China plans to purchase Russian Su-35
fighter planes and noted that although information on U.S.
defense spending is clear and publicly available, "no one
knows" what China's military plans are.


17. (U) DASD Sedney cleared this message.
Randt