Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN478
2009-04-24 15:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN MOD AND MFA SHARE OUR CONCERN ABOUT CHINA'S
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000478
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: CH PREL PGOV PHUM GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN MOD AND MFA SHARE OUR CONCERN ABOUT CHINA'S
GROWING MILITARY STRENGTH AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
REF: SECSTATE 28316
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFFREY RATHKE FOR REASONS:
1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000478
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: CH PREL PGOV PHUM GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN MOD AND MFA SHARE OUR CONCERN ABOUT CHINA'S
GROWING MILITARY STRENGTH AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
REF: SECSTATE 28316
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFFREY RATHKE FOR REASONS:
1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Post delivered reftel to MOD and MFA counterparts, who
shared our concerns about the Chinese military,s lack of
transparency. POLOFF and DAO officer on April 8 delivered
reftel to MOD East Asia Desk Officer Lt. Col. Stefan Klenz.
Klenz stated that transparency is always an issue when
meeting Chinese military officers, and that information
travels on a "one way street" with them. The MOD is engaged
in intensifying contacts, building trust, and trying to
establish consistent dialogue with Chinese officers. Klenz
sees willingness from China in all these areas, and he is
surprisingly confident that Germany eventually can transplant
its "way of military thinking" to the Chinese.
2. (C) POLOFF on April 22 delivered reftel to MFA Deputy Head
of East Asia Division Klaus Vietze, who noted that the MFA
shares the U.S. concern about China,s growing military
power. The MFA is concerned that the military modernization
creates too many worrisome "options" that could affect the
status quo regarding Taiwan and the Spratly Islands. Vietze
remarked that the MFA would be very interested in having a
clear picture of the U.S. benchmarks for limiting hi-tech
trade, especially in military areas. Also, he said it would
be helpful to hear current U.S. views on missile defense in
the region, as well as on Taiwan. Vietze stressed that
missile defense especially could have destabilizing effects.
3. (C) Vietze also provided information on the unique way
that the MFA handles the human rights and rule of law
dialogue with China. Germany essentially de-couples and
"completely separates" the more difficult and contentious
human rights issue from rule of law; decoupling the two
allows Germany to make "progress" in assisting the
development of the rule of law in China. Using this
approach, the MFA addresses sensitive topics such as torture
and religion. Vietze described torture as a long-term topic
in German-Chinese relations, and the MFA approach focuses on
improving prison standards rather than the more contentious
aspects of torture. He also argued that the MFA,s approach
is yielding some progress in freedom of religion, where the
MFA is trying to convince the Chinese of the socially
stabilizing role of religion. In the long term, Vietze saw
promise in engaging China on human rights issues.
Anania
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: CH PREL PGOV PHUM GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN MOD AND MFA SHARE OUR CONCERN ABOUT CHINA'S
GROWING MILITARY STRENGTH AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
REF: SECSTATE 28316
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFFREY RATHKE FOR REASONS:
1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Post delivered reftel to MOD and MFA counterparts, who
shared our concerns about the Chinese military,s lack of
transparency. POLOFF and DAO officer on April 8 delivered
reftel to MOD East Asia Desk Officer Lt. Col. Stefan Klenz.
Klenz stated that transparency is always an issue when
meeting Chinese military officers, and that information
travels on a "one way street" with them. The MOD is engaged
in intensifying contacts, building trust, and trying to
establish consistent dialogue with Chinese officers. Klenz
sees willingness from China in all these areas, and he is
surprisingly confident that Germany eventually can transplant
its "way of military thinking" to the Chinese.
2. (C) POLOFF on April 22 delivered reftel to MFA Deputy Head
of East Asia Division Klaus Vietze, who noted that the MFA
shares the U.S. concern about China,s growing military
power. The MFA is concerned that the military modernization
creates too many worrisome "options" that could affect the
status quo regarding Taiwan and the Spratly Islands. Vietze
remarked that the MFA would be very interested in having a
clear picture of the U.S. benchmarks for limiting hi-tech
trade, especially in military areas. Also, he said it would
be helpful to hear current U.S. views on missile defense in
the region, as well as on Taiwan. Vietze stressed that
missile defense especially could have destabilizing effects.
3. (C) Vietze also provided information on the unique way
that the MFA handles the human rights and rule of law
dialogue with China. Germany essentially de-couples and
"completely separates" the more difficult and contentious
human rights issue from rule of law; decoupling the two
allows Germany to make "progress" in assisting the
development of the rule of law in China. Using this
approach, the MFA addresses sensitive topics such as torture
and religion. Vietze described torture as a long-term topic
in German-Chinese relations, and the MFA approach focuses on
improving prison standards rather than the more contentious
aspects of torture. He also argued that the MFA,s approach
is yielding some progress in freedom of religion, where the
MFA is trying to convince the Chinese of the socially
stabilizing role of religion. In the long term, Vietze saw
promise in engaging China on human rights issues.
Anania