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FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8578
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0074
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1905
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0612
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0801
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1207

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PARM CH IR JP
SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 23 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRAN, JAPAN- CHINA 
EAST CHINA SEA, TAIWAN, IPR, PA-HAMAS 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  Key points at the February 23 MFA press briefing 
were as follows: 
 
- MFA Vice Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng will visit Iran 
February 24-26 for a working visit.  He will discuss 
PRC-Iran political and bilateral issues, exchange 
views on the nuclear question and discuss what steps 
could be taken to resolve the crisis. 
 
- Chen Shui-bian's independence moves are "dangerous" 
signals.  Other countries must be alert in order to 
avoid destabilizing the situation in the Taiwan 
Strait. 
 
- China and Japan will hold talks in Beijing in early 
March on their East China Sea natural gas field 
dispute. 
 
- China is making efforts to combat intellectual 
piracy but due to the state of development of the 
country, there are still some IPR piracy problems. 
 
- China is opposed to countries giving a platform to 
the "splittist activities" of the Dalai Lama. 
 
- Religious figures such as Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong 
Kong should not interfere in political matters. 
 
- The United States and China often share views on 
exchange rates at all levels. 
 
- Beijing hopes to retain good relations with 
Palestine and the Palestinian people, opposes actions 
that would make life harder for the Palestinians and 
would consider aid to the Palestinians if asked. 
 
- Beijing hopes Iraq can develop effective police and 
military forces, determine its own fate and work 
towards reconstruction of the country and its economy. 
 
- China's scientific activities in Antarctica are 
geared toward a better understanding of the planet and 
its environment. 
 
End Summary. 
 
Iranian Nuclear Talks 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  Asked to comment on the Iran situation during the 
regular February 23 MFA press briefing, MFA 
Spokesperson Liu Jianchao called for the international 
community to exercise patience and restraint andtake 
positive steps to resolve the crisis.  Lu announced 
that MFA Vice Foreign Minister LuGuozeng will visit 
Iran February 24-26 for a orking visit.  He will 
discuss PRC-Iran political and bilateral issues, 
exchange views on the nuclear question and discuss 
what steps could be taken as well as exchange opinions 
on regional issues.  China and Iran have normal, 
friendly, cooperative relations with many joint 
interests in economic and trade matters, Liu said.  He 
said he had no information on reports that China NDRC 
Chairman Ma Kai would visit Iran to ink a new energy 
deal in advance of possible international sanctions. 
 
Taiwan: NUC Abolition "Dangerous" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  In response to a question from the Bloomberg 
correspondent, Liu said that Taiwan President Chen 
Shui-bian's unilateral independence moves such as 
abolishing the National Unification Council are 
"dangerous" signals.  Beijing seeks to maintain cross- 
strait peace and stability, Liu said.  Other countries 
must be alert in order to avoid destabilizing the 
Taiwan Strait situation.  Asked what specific steps 
China would take in response to unilateral moves by 
Taiwan, Liu said he would not answer a hypothetical 
question. 
 
 
BEIJING 00003392  002 OF 002 
 
 
China-Japan East China Sea, Trade Talks 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  China and Japan will hold a fourth round of 
consultations in Beijing in early March to discuss the 
East China Sea natural gas field dispute, Liu 
announced. 
 
¶5.  Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister 
Toshihiro Nikai signed agreements with China on trade 
and economic cooperation, energy, environmental 
protection and bilateral investment during his 
February 21-23 visit.  Liu stated he had not heard of 
any reports that Nikai invited PRC Premier Wen Jiabao 
to Japan.  He stressed that Japan should treat history 
correctly and abide by its three joint political 
documents on one China. 
 
IPR Piracy: Problems Due to State of Development, MFA 
Clean 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶6.  Asked about the state of anti-intellectual piracy 
efforts and rumors that MFA uses pirated software, Liu 
said that China is making efforts to combat 
intellectual piracy.  There are still some IPR piracy 
problems due to the state of development of the 
country.  Liu declared that MFA takes a responsible 
attitude on IPR and uses no pirated software. 
 
The Dalai Lama and Bishop Joseph Zen 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7.  Asked for comment on the Dalai Lama's Middle East 
trip, Liu said that the PRC is firmly opposed to 
countries giving a platform to the splittist 
activities of the Dalai Lama. 
 
¶8.  In response to a question on the elevation to 
Cardinal of Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen, Liu said 
religious figures should not interfere in politics. 
 
Dollar-Renminbi 
--------------- 
 
¶9.  Asked about the upcoming visit of Under Secretary 
of the Treasury for International Affairs Tim Adams, 
Liu said that China and the United States routinely 
exchange views on currency rates at all levels. 
 
Aid to Palestinian Authority/Hamas 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  In response to the Al-Jazeera correspondent's 
question about the cutoff of U.S. funding and the 
future of PRC aid to the Palestinian Authority under 
Hamas, Liu stated that Beijing hopes to maintain good 
relations with Palestine and the Palestinian people, 
opposes actions that make life harder for the 
Palestinians and would consider aid to the 
Palestinians if asked. 
 
Iraq Stability and Reconstruction 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  China recognizes that Iraq remains unstable, Liu 
said.  Beijing hopes Iraq can develop effective police 
and military forces, determine its own fate and work 
towards reconstruction of the country and its economy. 
 
The Antarctic 
------------- 
 
¶12.  Asked about China's activities in Antarctica, Liu 
said that PRC scientific activities in Antarctica are 
geared toward a better understanding of the planet and 
its environment. 
Sedney