VZCZCXRO5877
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1159/01 0870831
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270831Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6111
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0339
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0156
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0316
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6670
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0386
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 1155
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0010
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0064
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0033
RUSBPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0122
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001159 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2033 
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KOLY CVIS CH
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA COUNTERTERRORISM DIALOGUE: BILATERAL 
COOPERATION, OLYMPICS/TORCH RELAY SECURITY, AIR MARSHALS 
(PART 1 OF 4) 
 
REF: BEIJING 930 
 
BEIJING 00001159  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 
(b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) U.S. Ambassador at Large for Counterterrorism Dell 
Dailey and MFA International Organizations and Conferences 
Department Director General Wu Hailong  shared proposals for 
enhancing bilateral counterterrorism cooperation during the 
March 25 U.S.-China Counterterrorism Dialogue in Beijing. 
Ambassador Dailey proposed conducting a biological terrorism 
table-top exercise for U.S. and Chinese officials and invited 
Chinese officials to visit Washington for briefings at the 
National Counterterrorism Center.  DG Wu and Ambassador 
Dailey discussed options for exchanging information and 
ensuring Olympic security.  China is concerned that "Tibet 
independence elements, Falun Gong and East Turkistan 
terrorists" could disrupt the Olympic Torch Relay in San 
Francisco, Wu said.  Ambassador Dailey expressed confidence 
in San Francisco City and federal authorities to ensure a 
safe and successful event, but explained to Wu the U.S. 
requirement to balance media access with security and lawful 
dissent.  The two sides also discussed methods for enhancing 
air marshal cooperation, including by streamlining visa 
procedures.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) During the March 25 U.S.-China Counterterrorism 
Dialogue in Beijing DG Wu,  described bilateral 
counterterrorism cooperation as "fruitful" and based on 
"mutual cooperation and equal benefit."  Agreeing with Wu's 
characterization, Ambassador Dailey, accompanied by 
Ambassador Randt, shared with Wu a number of proposals to 
enhance bilateral cooperation.  He proposed conducting a 
biological terrorism table-top exercise for U.S. and Chinese 
officials and he invited Chinese officials to visit 
Washington for briefings on the National Counterterrorism 
Center (NCTC), chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear 
hazards, terrorist trends and threats to aviation, and trends 
and terrorist use of fraudulent documents.  Wu welcomed these 
initiatives and promised to give them positive consideration. 
 
Olympic Security Cooperation 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) China hopes to increase cooperation with the United 
States on Olympic security, Wu said, citing FBI Director 
Mueller's recent visit to China and noting the United States' 
"significant experience" in hosting the Olympic Games.  Wu 
emphasized that 10,000 athletes from 200 countries will 
attend the Olympics, and more than 100 "registered" heads of 
state including the Bush family and royal families will be in 
attendance at either the opening or closing ceremonies. 
30,000 journalists (both "registered" and "unregistered") and 
a large number of spectators and "unregistered" VIPs are also 
expected to attend, complicating the security situation.  Wu 
asked the United States to assist China by providing Beijing 
with: 
 
-- a list of names of terrorists potentially targeting the 
Olympic Games; 
-- a detailed list of organizations that may stage attacks 
during the Games; 
-- intelligence regarding possible attacks; 
-- descriptions of the tactics such groups may have employed 
at previous Games; 
-- information on U.S. expertise in early warning and rapid 
intelligence sharing during the Games; 
-- a communications mechanism to ensure quick sharing of 
 
BEIJING 00001159  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
intelligence throughout the Games; 
-- an update to the U.S. Threat Assessment report on the 
Olympics; 
-- access to the FBI and other agency terror suspect 
databases; and 
-- information on possible terrorist attacks on flights to 
and from China. 
 
¶4. (C) Ambassador Dailey described the Embassy's plans to 
establish an interagency Joint Operations Center (JOC) during 
the Olympics that will "speak with one voice" on behalf of 
the U.S. Government.  All U.S. Executive Branch agencies will 
be represented and the JOC will ensure that communications 
and intelligence are quickly and appropriately shared. 
Ambassador Dailey stressed the importance of Chinese 
inter-agency elements communicating seamlessly with the JOC. 
He requested that China expeditiously approve the security 
cooperation plan, which is close to resolution with Olympic 
access accreditation still under review. 
 
¶5. (C) Ambassador Dailey noted that the United States will 
share all appropriate information with China.  He explained 
that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in cooperation with 
eight federal law enforcement agencies, will provide to China 
in April or May an updated threat assessment report on the 
Olympics.  The United States will also arrange a briefing for 
China at the NCTC on regional terror trends and threats to 
aviation.  With regard to the Chinese request that the FBI 
share its database with Beijing, Ambassador Dailey explained 
why an outright transfer of data is not possible and instead 
suggested a modified system as a compromise.  Under the 
Advance Passenger Information (API) initiative, he said, U.S. 
law enforcement agencies receive from participating countries 
names of possible terrorists and in return provides passenger 
manifests and pertinent law enforcement information. 
Ambassador Dailey noted that this approach was successfully 
employed during the cricket World Cup matches, where it was 
used to identify six terrorists, 50-60 criminals and an 
indefinite number of fraudulently-documented travelers. 
 
¶6. (C) Embassy's Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC) pointed 
out that the U.S. Olympic Committee passed the flight 
schedules of 1,150 U.S. athletes, trainers and coaches to 
China.  While not comprehensive, this list includes American 
athlete arrivals from other countries in Asia as well.  This 
list is expected to be finalized in April and the OSC will 
provide any necessary updates. 
 
¶7. (C) Ambassador Dailey said it is understood in the 
intelligence community that information sharing is a 
"revolving door."  The receiving country examines the 
information and adds to it and then returns it to the sending 
country for further development.  This is the relationship we 
want with China, he said.  Wu said he agreed. 
 
Security Concerns for Olympic Torch Relay Reiterated 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶8. (C) DG Wu said China appreciates the efforts of the San 
Francisco City Government to ensure a safe and successful 
Olympic Torch Relay in the city.  He noted that he had 
traveled to San Francisco recently to see the exact route 
along which the torch will pass and to meet city and federal 
officials.  At least 5,000 "Tibet independence elements" will 
protest the relay, Wu claimed, and the reputation of the 
Olympic Games and the United States in the eyes of the 
Chinese people will be hurt if the Relay is disrupted.  He 
asked the Untied States to take "all necessary measures" to 
cooperate with China to ensure a secure event.  Saying that 
"Tibet independence elements" have a "strong tendency" to use 
force, Wu requested the United States provide security for 
 
BEIJING 00001159  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
the Chinese plane carrying the torch and 180 Chinese 
operation and advance team officials who will accompany the 
torch.  He asked the United States to treat the aircraft like 
a "VIP plane" and heighten the guard force for it.  "Please 
ensure that Tibet independence elements, Falun Gong and East 
Turkistan terrorists do not attack the operation and advance 
teams' residences, food and travel," Wu asked. 
 
¶9. (C) Ambassador Dailey said the United States understands 
the sensitivity of this issue.  He noted that the San 
Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has handled tougher 
situations in the past and has the assistance of the FBI and 
other federal agencies.  He stressed to Wu that the Torch 
Relay is a newsworthy event and that the United States will 
have to balance media access with security and potential 
legal protest.  Embassy RSO noted that the Department is 
working with the SFPD to ensure adequate security for the 
plane and the Chinese operations and advance teams. 
 
Air Marshal Cooperation 
----------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) Noting a "March 7 incident" on board a China Southern 
airliner (reftel), Wu requested that General Administration 
for Civil Aviation Chief of Air Marshal Command Song Shengli 
comment on bilateral cooperation to prevent attacks on U.S. 
and Chinese international flights.  Song proposed 
establishing a medium and long-term training program.  He 
also proposed establishing a "mechanism" to exchange 
information on threats to flights quickly. 
 
¶11. (C) Department of Homeland Security Deputy Director for 
Asia Pacific Affairs Douglas Palmeri welcomed the proposals, 
promised to study them carefully and explained how China can 
participate in the Transportation Security Administration's 
Transportation Information Sharing System.  He cautioned that 
TSA has limited resources available for training, and that 
 
SIPDIS 
the training is in high demand from other countries' air 
marshals.  To help ensure security during and after the 
Olympics, he urged China to provide multiple entry visas to 
U.S. Air Marshals.  Otherwise, he said, to streamline visa 
processing, China should consider accepting a generic visa 
letter at its Embassy in Washington instead of an individual 
letter for each marshal.  DG Wu promised to find "reasonable 
solutions" to this problem.  Song noted that the United 
States could likewise facilitate visa issuances for Chinese 
air marshals by eliminating the interview and fingerprint 
requirement for marshals who have already been issued visas. 
 
¶12. (U) The delegation has cleared this cable. 
 
¶13. (U) MINIMIZED CONSIDERED. 
PICCUTA