Cablegate: September 27 Mfa Press Briefing: Burma, Six Party

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OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #6339/01 2700930
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270930Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2237
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 8803
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 4619
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0340

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006339

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH KN KS RS BM
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: BURMA, SIX PARTY
TALKS, MISSING RUSSIANS

1. Key points at the September 27 MFA Press Briefing were:

-- China hopes all parties in Burma can "exercise restraint"
so as to avoid escalation of the situation. China also urged
the press to report truthfully and avoid "exaggerated hype."

-- The Six-Party Talks are set to begin this evening. China
hopes that all parties can work together to achieve positive
results.

-- Chinese heavy fuel assistance to the DPRK was recently
completed.

-- China has seen the reports of Syrian-DPRK cooperation.
China has a consistent position on nonproliferation and
denuclearization of the Korean peninsula will be good for
non-proliferation.

-- Of six missing Russians in Xinjiang, two have been
rescued, the remains of three others have been located and
one remains missing. China maintains hope and will not give
up the search.

-- VISITS: Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
will visit China October 2-3 to attend the Special Olympics
in Shanghai and then visit Shandong province.

China Hopes for "Restraint" In Burma
------------------------------------

2. At the September 27 regular MFA press briefing,
spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China has been closely following
the situation in Burma and hopes that all parties exercise
restraint so as to avoid escalation or a negative effect on
regional stability. She also expressed hope that the press
would report on the situation in Myanmar truthfully with no
"exaggerated hype." Some in the press had attacked China out
of "ulterior motives," she said. Asked to clarify, Jiang
said everyone had read the reports and seen examples. Asked
if China would support a UN Security Council Resolution on
Burma, she said the Security Council had discussed this topic
and the Chair had spoken to the press. She said the
international community should provide "constructive
assistance" to relax the situation in Myanmar and China
supports the mediation of the UN Secretary General. Asked if
any high-level visits had taken place between China and
Burma, she said she had no information but had already made
China's position clear. Asked specifically if China
condemned the violence in Myanmar, Jiang refused to answer
because the journalist asking "had come late to the press
conference."

Six-Party Talks and Fuel Aid to DPRK
------------------------------------

3. Asked if China had completed shipping heavy fuel to the
DPRK and if that would influence the Six-Party Talks, Jiang
said that the fuel shipment was complete. She said the
opening phase of the Six-Party Talks would take place the
same evening and China is ready to work to finalize a joint
statement to move the talks forward. She hoped that all
parties could work together to achieve results. Asked about
specifics of the oil shipment and a timetable for disablement
of nuclear facilities in the DPRK, Jiang responded only that
the oil arrived "recently" and that details of disablement
would be discussed in the Six-Party Talks.

Syria and the DPRK
------------------

4. Asked if the reports of DPRK nuclear collaboration with
Syria would impact the Six-Party Talks, Jiang said she had
seen the reports and statements. She said China has a clear
and consistent policy on nonproliferation and that
denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula would be good for
nonproliferation.

The Search for Missing Russians
-------------------------------

5. China made a great effort to mobilize joint
search-and-rescue efforts that led to the rescue of two
Russians missing in Xinjiang and the recovery of the remains
of three others. Jiang said that while joint search efforts
with Russia had ended yesterday, China will not give up hope
or cease its efforts to find the final missing Russian.

6. VISITS: Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will
visit China October 2-3 to attend the Special Olympics in

BEIJING 00006339 002 OF 002

Shanghai and then visit Shandong province.
Randt

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