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Cablegate: September 4 Mfa Press Briefing: Computer Hacking,

VZCZCXRO7276
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #5792/01 2470921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 040921Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1507
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3184
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005792

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SENV SOCI PINR MARR UNSC KS KN IR AS
JA, UK, TW, CH
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 4 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: COMPUTER HACKING,
MILITARY TRANSPARENCY, SPECIAL REP FOR CLIMATE CHANGE,
TAIWAN, DPRK NORMALIZATION TALKS, MORE


1. Key points at the September 4 MFA Press Briefing were:

-- China calls allegations that the Chinese military hacked
into Pentagon computer systems "groundless" and
representative of a "Cold War mentality."

-- China will begin annual reporting to the UN on military
spending and resume participation in the UN Conventional
Weapons Registry.

-- China holds a "prudent and responsible" attitude toward
arms trading and follows its international obligations, UN
Charter resolutions as well as domestic rules and regulations
in this regard.

-- The establishment of a special representative to
international negotiations on climate change demonstrates
China's great attention to this issue and participation in
this regard.

-- China welcomes the progress of United States-DPRK meetings
in Geneva and supports the improvement of U.S.-DPRK relations.

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Accusations of Chinese Hacking "Groundless"
-------------------------------------------

2. At the September 4 regular MFA press briefing,
spokeswoman Jiang Yu called allegations that the Chinese
military hacked into Pentagon computer systems "groundless"
and representative of a "Cold War mentality." Jiang said
that hacking is a common activity of which China is also
"frequently" victim.

Steps to Increase Military Transparency at UN
---------------------------------------------

3. The Chinese Government has decided to begin annual
reporting to the United Nations on military spending and to
resume participation in the UN Conventional Weapons Registry,
Jiang told reporters. Jiang added that the two measures
further efforts toward military transparency, increase
military trust with other countries and enhance international
peace and stability.

Chinese Weapons in Afghanistan
------------------------------

4. China holds a "prudent and responsible" attitude toward
arms trading and follows its international obligations, UN
Charter resolutions and domestic rules and regulations in
this regard, stated Jiang when asked about an investigation
into the use of Chinese weapons by the Taliban. She
reiterated China's three requirements that must be met before
selling conventional weapons. The buyer must clarify the
"end user," weapons may not be sold to any third party and
weapons may only be sold to governments, Jiang said.

Special Representative Appointed for Climate Change
--------------------------------------------- ------

5. Responding to a Xinhua News Agency reporter's question,
Jiang confirmed the establishment of a special representative
to international negotiations on climate change, which will
work under the MFA's Department of Treaty and Law. Yu
Qingtai, who previously has served at the UN and as
Ambassador to Tanzania, has been appointed as the new envoy.
The establishment of the new position is an important step
toward implementation of the Government's "national program"
on climate change and demonstrates China's great attention to
this issue and participation in this regard.

Bush-Hu Meeting, Opposition to "Taiwan Independence"
--------------------------------------------- -------

6. Asked if President Hu would raise Taiwan's referendum on
UN membership with President Bush at their APEC meeting,
Jiang reaffirmed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China
and the PRC Government is the only government that represents
China. Jiang expressed hope that the Bush-Hu meeting will
benefit bilateral ties, adding that opposition to "Taiwan
independence" will help safeguard peace and stability and
also jointly benefit U.S.-China relations.

China Supports DPRK Talks with U.S., Japan
------------------------------------------

7. China welcomes the progress of recent United States-DPRK
meetings in Geneva, supports the improvement of U.S.-DPRK

BEIJING 00005792 002 OF 002


relations and hopes the "relevant parties" can maintain the
positive momentum as a basis for mutual trust and to promote
the Six-Party Talks process. China hopes Japan-DPRK meetings
in Mongolia go "smoothly" and bring "great results," so that
the two sides can solve issues at an early date. Jiang told
reporters no date had yet been set for the next phase of
Six-Party Talks.

Child Labor and Education, FM Yang to UK?
-----------------------------------------

8. Asked about reports that China's poor education system
was contributing to the problem of child labor, the
spokeswoman said China has all along respected the rights and
interests of children and abides by conventions of the
International Labor Organization (ILO). Jiang had no
information regarding a reporter's question on a possible
visit to the UK by FM Yang.
Randt

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