CHINA'S MFA REASSIGNS INTERNAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000859 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2034 TAGS: PARM MTCR MNUC PREL KNNP ETTC CH SUBJECT: CHINA'S MFA REASSIGNS INTERNAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CASES OF CHINESE PROLIFERATION CONCERN Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On March 31, MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Biological and Chemical Weapons Division Deputy Director Yang Yi informed PolOff that all specific cases of proliferation concern related to Chinese firms, including missile and nuclear cases, would now be under the purview of the MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department's Second Division (the Biological and Chemical Weapons Division). Noting concerns that the United States never received feedback on the majority of proliferation cases raised with China, PolOff welcomed the creation of a central point of contact for proliferation cases of concern and expressed hope that this would facilitate better cooperation in furthering shared nonproliferation goals. ¶2. (C) PolOff suggested that regular meetings to discuss previously-raised proliferation cases of concern would be useful for both sides, and urged that quarterly review meetings to discuss these cases (suspended last October) be reinstituted. Yang said she would "report the request to her superiors." PICCUTA