Cablegate: Charge Presses China On Arf Nonproliferation Ism

VZCZCXRO2565
RR RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHBJ #4875 2070105
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 260105Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0151

UNCLAS BEIJING 004875

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM ARF CH
SUBJECT: CHARGE PRESSES CHINA ON ARF NONPROLIFERATION ISM
NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL

REF: STATE 101525

1. (SBU) Charge delivered reftel points to MFA Arms Control
and Disarmament Department Director General Zhang Yan July
25, voicing U.S. concerns that the proposed name change for
the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM)
on Nonproliferation would broaden the meeting's scope beyond
the intended purpose of nonproliferation capacity building.

2. (SBU) DG Zhang said he is familiar with the issue, which
he discussed with U.S. officials during the previous week's
Six-Party Talks in Beijing. While insisting the issue should
be raised directly with the Indonesians, Zhang pledged to
work with his counterparts in the MFA's Department of Asian
Affairs to ensure the MFA understands the issue and its
importance.

3. (SBU) Charge reiterated that we look to China to partner
with the United States and Singapore to strengthen security
work in the ARF and to urge Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia
towards a position that will yield substantial outcomes for
the ARF's nonproliferation efforts. Charge left Reftel
points as a nonpaper.
PICCUTA

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