CHINA: 1991 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS BEIJING 036390 S/CT FOR BREELAND E.O. 12356N/A TAGS: PTER SUBJECT: CHINA: 1991 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: STATE 346420 ¶1. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED PARA 5 REFTEL FOLLOW: ¶A. POST HAS NO RECORD OF ANY CHINESE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR OF ANY SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM DURING THE PAST YEAR. ¶B. POST HAS NO RECORD OF ANY EXTRADITIONS OR ATTEMPTED EXTRADITIONS OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS BY THE PRC DURING THE PAST YEAR. ¶C. THE U.S. DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTRADITION TREATY WITH THE PRC. CHINA HAS IN THE PAST TRANSFERRED CRIMINALS TO COUNTRIES WITH WHICH IT DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTRADITION TREATY. CURRENT PRC SENSITIVITY OVER THE CASE OF WANG ZONGXIAO -- A CONVICTED NARCOTICS TRAFFICKER WHO WAS ALLOWED TO GO TO THE U.S. TO TESTIFY IN A NARCOTICS CASE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY FILED A CLAIM FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM THAT IS UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IN THE U.S. -- MIGHT WELL AFFECT CHINESE WILLINGNESS TO EXTRADITE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. ¶D. RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION: THE CHINESE OFFICIAL POSITION IS THAT THE PRC GOVERNMENT IS OPPOSED TO ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM AND DOES NOT SUPPORT OR HARBOR TERRORISTS. THIS POSITION WAS MOST RECENTLY REITERATED BY A MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN REPLYING TO ALLEGATIONS IN THE INDIAN PRESS THAT ASSAMESE TERRORISTS WERE BEING TRAINED IN CHINA. DURING THE GULF WAR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT COOPERATED WITH THE U.S. BY SHARING INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, AND INCREASED SECURITY AT THE U.S. EMBASSY AND OTHER POSSIBLE TARGETS FOR TERRORIST ATTACK. ¶E. WE ARE NOT AWARE OF PRC PARTICIPATION IN MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS. ¶F. THE PRC PUBLICLY OPPOSES TERRORISM. THE EMBASSY HAS NO RECORD OF PRC SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THERE IS A PLO MISSION IN BEIJING AND THE PRC HOSTED A DELEGATION OF PLO LEADERS THIS AUGUST. ¶G. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHINESE STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE. ¶H. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE PRC'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS TERRORISM OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR. ROY