Cablegate: China: Proposed Amendments to Gicnt Terms Of

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJ #3475 3621049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281049Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7441
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9462
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0083
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1434

UNCLAS BEIJING 003475

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND ISN/WMDT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KGIC MNUC CH
SUBJECT: CHINA: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO GICNT TERMS OF

REFERENCE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 130750

1. PolOff delivered reftel demarche informing China of the
proposed amendments to the Global Initiative to Combat
Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) Terms of Reference to MFA Arms
Control and Disarmament Department Nuclear Division Officer
Xu Feng on December 28. Xu thanked PolOff for the draft
Terms of Reference and said he would consult within the
Chinese government "to see what we could contribute to the
draft." Xu said that his understanding of the GICNT was that
it was a forum for partners to exchange information on how to
combat nuclear terrorism. In its current format, the GICNT
was not "institutionalized" nor did there exist a permanent
agency to conduct its work. With some of the proposed
changes in the Terms of Reference, Xu asked whether the
United States and Russia were looking to move the GICNT into
a more "structured mechanism."

2. PolOff emphasized that the January 19, 2010 Exercise
Planning Group (EPG) meeting would provide an opportunity for
GICNT partners to discuss the proposed amendments before the
June 2010 Plenary. Xu said that his office was considering a
positive decision with regard to China's participation in the
EPG and would "actively participate" in the discussions. Xu
also asked PolOff whether Washington could provide more
information about the proposed location for the June 2010
Plenary. PolOff agreed to convey Beijing's questions to
Washington.
GOLDBERG

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