Cablegate: Demarche Delivered: Cnsa Response to Venezuelan Satellite

VZCZCXRO7754
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #4088 3030901
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290901Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0670
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0255
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0314
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BEIJING 004088

EAP/CM FOR JHABJAN
EEB/CIP/TS FOR DOUG MAY

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL TSPA KSCA CH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CNSA RESPONSE TO VENEZUELAN SATELLITE
DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 114820

1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.

2. (SBU) On October 29, ESTHOFF conveyed points in REFTEL and
discussed the issue directly by phone with Mr. XU Yansong of the
China National Space Agency's (CNSA)International Cooperation
Department, who is already at the launch site (NOTE: The launch is
set to take place on the morning of October 30, not/not November 1
as stated in REFTEL, a fact Xu confirmed directly to ESTHOFF. END
NOTE) Post also transmitted points in writing to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) Americas Division, and urged the two agencies
to coordinate quickly in order to work out a suitable solution.

3. (SBU) An hour later Xu contacted ESTHOFF again to notify Post
that he had discussed the issue with representatives of the Great
Wall Industry Cooperation (GWIC). According to (GWIC), the
Venezuelan and Uruguay governments have received authorization from
the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to proceed with the
launch, Venezuela has fulfilled ITU's treaty obligations, and
Uruguay has registered the orbit; therefore, GWIC sees no problem
with the launch going forward as planned.

4. (SBU) In response, ESTHOFF reiterated that very recent
information provided by Washington indicates that the issue of
potential interference problems for U.S.-licensed satellite
operators has indeed not yet been resolved, despite GWIC's
assertions today, and requested that Xu discuss this issue directly
with representatives of the Venezuelan government, who are currently
present at the launch site. ESTHOFF further asked that Xu get
directly in touch with MFA to discuss and coordinate an appropriate
response. Xu agreed to these recommendations, and also stated that
he would be discussing the issue with officials from the Ministry of
Science Technology who are also present at the site.

5. (SBU) Post will report any additional information received from
CNSA and/or MFA after hours by email and/or phone, but given that
the launch is less than 8 hours away (sometime between midnight and
3:00 AM on October 30 Beijing time), and that the issue is not yet
resolved, Post urges that Washington continue to work this issue
with the Chinese Embassy.

PICCUTA

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