Cablegate: January 26, 2010 Mfa Press Briefing: Taiwan Arms Sales,

VZCZCXRO7946
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #0209/01 0261143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261143Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7789
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0003
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0721

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000209

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM MASS EINT TINT SENV CH AF HA

SUBJECT: JANUARY 26, 2010 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: TAIWAN ARMS SALES,
TALKS WITH DALAI LAMA REPRESENTATIVES, INTERNET FREEDOM, HAITI, GAO
ZHISHENG

QKey points at the January 26 MFA press briefing were:

-- China remains "consistent, unequivocal, and firm" in its
opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

-- China supports a stable U.S.-China relationship that adheres to
the three Joint Communiques and the Joint Statement released during
the visit of President Obama.

-- Chinese officials will meet with visiting representatives of the
Dalai Lama at the request of the Dalai Lama.

-- China has provided 38 million USD in in-kind and financial
assistance for disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan
------------------------

2. At the January 26 regularly scheduled Foreign Ministry press
briefing, Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu stated that China was "firmly
against" U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. China had made many
representations to the U.S. on the issue in the past and its
opposition remained "consistent, unequivocal, and firm." Ma urged
the United States to respect the three Joint Communiques, especially
the principles in the August 17, 1982 Joint Communique. Ma said
that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan could impair the U.S.-China
relationship.

3. Overall, the U.S.-China relationship over the past year had been
stable, Ma said. Both sides shouldQrish this "hard-won
achievement" and urged the U.S. to continue to promote the
fundamental interests of both countries by adhering to the three
Joint Communiques and the Joint Statement released during the
November, 2009 visit to China by President Obama.

Dalai Lama's Special Envoy Visit to China
-----------------------------------------

4. In response to questions regarding the announced visit to China
by representatives of the Dalai Lama, Ma stated that Chinese
officials would meet with the representatives at the request of the
Dalai Lama. China hoped the Dalai Lama would "cherish the
opportunity" presented by the consultations with the Chinese
government.

China's Internet
----------------

5. Ma asserted that China enjoyed extensive freedom of expression.
He noted that since the political turmoil of the late 1980s, the
Chinese people have chosen the path of "correct development."

6. Internet security was a global problem and the Chinese government
opposed any form of cyber attack, Ma stated. He noted that the
Chinese government's position was unequivocal in supporting
international cooperation against hacking and in ensuring the
protection of its citizens.

China's Earthquake Disaster Relief in HaiQ
-------------------------------------------

7. Ma announced that China's efforts to provide disaster relief and
assistance for reconstruction efforts in Haiti would respect Haiti's
sovereignty and territorial integrity. China had provided 38
million USD in in-kind and financial assistance for disaster relief
efforts, Ma said. He noted that China's experience in responding to
the Sichuan earthquake would help Chinese efforts to rebuild Haiti
alongside the international community.

8. Chinese consular officials had helped Chinese citizens stranded
in Haiti to return to China on a charter plane, Ma announced.

Whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng
---------------------------

9. In response to a question regarding the location of human rights
advocate Gao Zhisheng, Ma replied that he had no information on
Gao's current location. He noted that there were 1.3 billion people
in China and the Chinese government did not know where specific
individuals would be located at all times.

Way Ahead on Copenhagen Agreement
---------------------------------

10. Ma stated the Chinese government supported the agreements
concluded during the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change because
they reflected the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCC) principle of "common but differentiated

BEIJING 00000209 002.2 OF 002

responsibilities." The next step would be to translate the
consensus reached at the Conference into specific tasks and to hold
working level meetings as early as possible. He concluded that
China would affirm emission mitigation and reduction agreements
reached in Copenhagen.

Response to Iran's Nuclear Program
----------------------------------

11. Ma stated that China's approach to Iran's nuclear program was
consistent and emphasized dialogue and cooperation. There was
"still room for diplomatic efforts," said Ma, and China would
emphasize flexibility and pragmatism in these efforts.

Kidnapped Chinese Engineers in Afghanistan
------------------------------------------

12. Ma stated that China was making every effort to rescue two
Chinese engineers who had been kidnapped in Afghanistan January 16.

HUNTSMAN

© Scoop Media