VZCZCXRO6863
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHVN #0562/01 2900804
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160804Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2258
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFIUU/CDR JPAC HICKAM AFB HI
RHHMUND/COMMARFORPAC
RUEHBK/USDAO BANGKOK TH
RUEHBK/CHJUSMAGTHAI BANGKOK TH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENTIANE 000562 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS EAID PREL LA
SUBJECT: DASD CLAD VISIT TO LAOS CONTINUES MIL-MIL PROGRESS; LAO 
DATT TO DC IN FEBRUARY 
 
REFS: A) 07 Vientiane 0092 
-     B) 07 State 88478 
-     C) 07 Vientiane 0625 
-  D) 07 Vientiane 0725 
-  E) 07 Vientiane 0790 
-     F) 07 Vientiane 0914 
-  G) 08 Vientiane 0410 
-  H) 08 Vientiane 0485 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  OSD's DASD James Clad may be the highest-ranking 
Pentagon policy official to have visited Vientiane since 1975. 
While senior DPMO officials involved in the MIA accounting process 
have visited regularly, Dr. Clad's visit sends another positive 
signal about the improving and broadening bilateral 
military-military relationship as the two sides prepare for the 
upcoming exchange of defense attaches.  The Lao Vice Defense 
Minister focused on practical defense cooperation and asked the 
United States to do more English language training for Lao military 
officials.  The Vice Foreign Minister was more interested in 
regional politics and raised the U.S.-China-Taiwan triangle with his 
OSD visitor.  Both officials seemed very comfortable in the 
meetings.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: The U.S.-Lao defense relationship, while modest, 
is steadily warming.  DASD Clad's meetings with senior leadership 
were very positive and friendly - a contrast to interaction in 
earlier years.  The Lao government gave the visit more than usual 
visibility; his call on the Vice Defense Minister ran with a photo 
and story on the front page of the "Lao People's Army Times," while 
a clip of DASD Clad's visit appeared on the Lao Army's weekly TV 
broadcast the next day.  This is unusual: normally, Lao Army TV 
reports appear several days or even a week behind other media 
reports. 
 
¶3. (SBU) COMMENT continued: The Army newspaper placement and TV 
timing appears carefully designed in this controlled media 
environment to send a very positive message to the Lao military 
community.  The message undoubtedly also reached other interested 
parties in Vientiane including the ASEAN, Chinese, and Russian 
military attaches.  (Note: This is the second positive message about 
U.S. relations recently in the "Lao People's Army Times:" the 
photo/story of the mid-July ceremony at which the Ambassador turned 
over PACOM-donated medical supplies to the military hospital in 
Vientiane had also appeared on its front page.)  End comment. 
 
¶4. (U) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. James C. Clad 
visited Vientiane October 7-9.  Dr. Clad was accompanied by OSD 
Southeast Asia Country Director Mr. Dinh M. Lai and PACOM Southeast 
Asia Policy Division Deputy Director Captain (Sel.) Pat Kelly, U.S. 
Navy.  While in Vientiane, Dr. Clad met with key Government of Laos 
(GOL) officials including Major General Somphet Thipmala, Vice 
Minister, Ministry of National Defense (MND); Vice Foreign Minister 
Phongsavath Boupha; and Ambassador Khouanta Phalivong, Director 
General of MFA's Europe-Americas Department. 
 
¶5. (U) Dr. Clad also addressed more than 70 Lao officials from a 
broad range of ministries on "U.S. Security Policy in Southeast 
Asia" at the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA).  IFA is the Lao 
equivalent of the U.S. National Foreign Affairs Training Center.  It 
provides training for all Lao diplomats and MFA officials, in 
addition to foreign affairs department staff from the provinces. 
Finally, Dr. Clad met with unexploded ordnance (UXO) specialists 
from the Lao National Regulatory Agency as well as UXO-clearing 
NGOs. 
 
Vice Defense Minister: Lao DATT to arrive Feb 2009 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶6. (SBU) Vice Minister MG Somphet was friendly and outgoing during 
the meeting with DASD Clad.  MG Somphet cited the improving U.S.-Lao 
relationship and mentioned particularly cooperation with JPAC's MIA 
accounting mission.  He noted that the GOL receives a wide range of 
assistance from the USG in poverty reduction, UXO clearance, health, 
and trade and investment.  MG Somphet also cited broadening 
bilateral mil-mil cooperation and was pleased that two MND officers 
had just returned from training at the Defense Language Institute in 
Texas with improved skills in English, preparatory to their 
assignment to the new Defense Attach Office in Washington. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Dr. Clad began by briefly reviewing the successful start of 
U.S.-Vietnam political-military discussions, the inaugural meeting 
of which had occurred the day before in Hanoi.  He then described 
U.S. defense relationship with Asia-Pacific and ASEAN countries, 
 
VIENTIANE 00000562  002 OF 003 
 
 
including Laos, as vital.  The presence of the United States in the 
reQn is to work together with countries in Asia and assist them 
according to their desires and needs.  MG Somphet welcomed the 
presence of the United States in the region. 
 
¶8. (SBU) DASD Clad highlighted the upcoming U.S.-Lao exchange of 
defense attaches as a good step in strengthening our mil-mil 
relationship.  He commended the Lao choice for DATT, COL Kenekeo 
Pholsena, as very capable and experienced - already having been the 
Lao DATT in Burma (1996-98), Indonesia (2003-06), and China 
(2006-present).  After Dr. Clad noted our DATT would arrive in 
December, MG Somphet said that COL Kenekeo would arrive in 
Washington, D.C. by the end of February - after the Lao People's 
Army celebrates its 60th anniversary in January 2009. 
 
¶9. (SBU) MG Somphet highlighted the importance to the Lao military 
of improving English language skills because English is the common 
language used in ASEAN.  He requested that the United States provide 
English language training, either via programs in Laos or by sending 
more Lao military personnel to attend programs in the United States. 
 He demurred discussing other specific military cooperation that 
might be possible in the future, saying to "leave it to our DATTs to 
discuss in detail." 
 
MFA Meetings: Bilateral Dialogue, TIP, China 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶10. (SBU) VFM Phongsavath and DASD Clad opened by referring to the 
recent meeting in New York between EAP Bureau Assistant Secretary 
Hill and Lao Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Dr. Thongloun 
Sisoulith and the possibility of A/S Hill participating in future 
sessions of the annual U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue 
(CBD) which began in 2006.  VFM Phongsavath described the bilateral 
cooperation as going very well with the upcoming DATT exchange as 
aQher key step forward.  In a separate conversation, MFA DG 
Ambassador Khouanta asked if the next session of the CBD might be 
held in the United States. 
 
¶11. (SBU) VFM Phongsavath highlighted, among other issues, the 
increasing number of tourists coming to Laos as the country opened 
to the outside world.  He said the GOL is working to create a good 
environment and maintain stability to allow safe visits for these 
visitors.  Phongsavath noted Laos has borders with five countries 
(China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma) which he called 
"good neighbors" - but added that increased human trafficking has 
also resulted from the more open environment.  Despite the 
difficulty in tracking the movement of traffickers, Laos is working 
to arrest those violating Lao laws and put them on trial.  He added 
that human trafficking was one of the issues discussed in Greater 
Mekong Sub-region (GMS) meetings. 
 
¶12. (SBU) DASD Clad and VFM Phongsavath also discussed the increased 
presence of Chinese in Laos, including the large casino built by a 
Chinese company at the Boten border crossing in Luang Namtha 
Province.  Phongsavath, who seemed a bit discomfited about this 
issue, explained that, at the time of the original land lease, the 
Chinese company had asked that Laos put its border check points 
south of the casino complex -- to allow casino patrons from China 
"free access" to the area.  Phongsavath said the GOL was now in 
negotiation with the Chinese about moving the check points back to 
the border line to better control those crossing into Lao territory. 
 
 
¶13. (SBU) VFM Phongsavath then moved the conversation to a regional 
discussion, asking about the recent U.S. decision to sell a new 
package of arms to Taiwan and the decision's potential impact on 
U.S.-PRC relations.  He noted the danger of Taiwan's desire for 
independence.  The Ambassador emphasized U.S. commitment to a 
peaceful resolution of the issue of Taiwan's future, the need to 
maintain a balance across the Taiwan Strait, our careful 
consideration of the weapons requested by Taiwan, and the defensive 
nature of the weapons the United States chose to sell.  DASD Clad 
added his expectation that the depth and breadth of current military 
contacts between the United States and China would help 
counterbalance Beijing's short-term disappointment with our 
decision. 
 
IFA Presentation: U.S. Security Policy toward ASEAN 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶14. (SBU) DASD Clad described U.S. security policy in Southeast Asia 
to a large audience of GOL officials invited from the Foreign, 
National Defense, Public Security, Finance, and other ministries as 
well as other GOL organizations and academic institutions.  While 
 
VIENTIANE 00000562  003 OF 003 
 
 
recognizing our difficult past with Laos, Dr. Clad emphasized the 
need to look to the future and for the two sides to work together 
"in a way that reinforces the independence of Laos."  He emphasized 
that U.S. policies toward Asia are based on U.S. national interests 
which will not change whoever wins the upcoming Presidential 
election.  Dr. Clad also pointed out that U.S. defense and security 
cooperation with ASEAN countries is increasingly multilateral as the 
definition of security becomes wider than in the past to include, 
for example, emergency assistance to countries hit by natural 
disasters. 
 
HAYMOND