VZCZCXRO6250
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #0526/01 0610707
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 020707Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2582
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1076
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2396
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9210
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000526 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PACOM FOR FPA AMB CHRISTY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2034 
TAGS: PREL PARM PTER CH
SUBJECT: AFM LIU JIEYI PRESSES TIMING CONCERNS ON 2009 PRC 
POWER REPORT WITH DASD SEDNEY: OTHER ISSUES, DPRK, 
NONPROLIFERATION 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson.  Reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (S) In a February 27 meeting with Assistant Foreign 
Minister Liu Jieyi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 
David Sedney noted the positive direction in U.S.-China 
relations, and said the just-concluded Defense Policy 
Coordination Talks (DPCTs) were a good beginning.  Both 
agreed on the importance of moving forward with the 
U.S.-China mil-mil relationship.  Liu's main focus was an 
effort to get the United States not to issue the 2009 Chinese 
Military Power Report (CMPR) now.  Liu said issuing the 
report the week of March 1 would result in public criticism, 
including by influential bloggers and netizens, that the PLA 
had sold out the Chinese people by having a friendly meeting 
with the U.S. DOD, which then immediately released a 
"hostile" report.  Sedney responded that the CMPR was a 
Congressionally-mandated report, and therefore must be 
issued.  (Comment: In a follow up one-on-one with DASD 
Sedney, Liu urged that if the report could not be stopped 
entirely, that it at least be delayed for 2-3 weeks in order 
to prevent damage to U.S.-PRC mil-mil relations.  Several 
members of the PLA team made the same point at the DPCT 
dinner that night.  End comment.)  Liu said China supported 
continued nonproliferation cooperation between the United 
States and China, and that both sides should "keep in touch" 
about scheduling of bilateral nonproliferation dialogues.  On 
North Korea, Liu said China had approached North Korea to 
discourage a missile launch, but called on all sides to "keep 
calm and exercise restraint," a theme later echoed by PLA 
officers at dinner.  Liu said China was ready to assist with 
U.S. remains recovery efforts in China.  End Summary. 
 
U.S.-PRC Relations and Mil-Mil Discussions 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (S) In a February 27 meeting with Assistant Foreign 
Minister Liu Jieyi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 
David Sedney noted the positive direction of U.S.-China 
relations, and said our aim is to build a positive and 
courteous relationship in the military-military relationship. 
 Liu said the successful visit by Secretary Clinton and the 
two phone conversations between President Obama and President 
Obama demonstrated that China and the United States were 
building a more constructive and positive relationship on the 
"basis of respect and core national interests."  China was 
"pleased" with the current state of the relationship, Liu 
said.  Sedney noted that the U.S.-China Defense Policy 
Coordination Talks (DPCTs) went well earlier in the day, and 
took place on the "basis of respect."  Although the United 
States and China "had our differences" during the DPCT 
discussions, "we can still move forward," Sedney stressed. 
Sedney pointed out that it was important that each side was 
frank with each other.  Liu responded that the U.S.-China 
mil-mil relationship could improve "based on ideas put forth 
by both sides."  In a reference to arms sales to Taiwan, Liu 
said the United States should "avoid what happened in the 
past." 
 
Chinese Military Power Report 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3. (S) In anticipation of the impending release of the 2009 
Report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's 
Republic of China (CMPR), Liu argued the report "did not 
serve any useful purpose in building the U.S.-China 
relationship," and urged that the United States "not release" 
the CMPR "this year or in the future."  Sedney responded that 
this report was issued by Congressional mandate, and only 
Congress could remove that requirement.  It would therefore 
be a "tragic mistake" for China's senior leaders to believe 
that this report was published "because we choose to do so," 
and thereby allow its publication to harm the U.S.-China 
relationship.  Liu rejoined that "it would be a greater 
mistake to issue the report" and harm U.S.-China efforts to 
"face common challenges." 
 
 
BEIJING 00000526  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶4. (S) In a one-on-one conversation at the end of the 
meeting, Liu argued strongly that if the report had to be 
issued, that it at least be delayed for 2-3 weeks to avoid 
harming U.S-PRC military relations.  Liu said issuing the 
report the week of March 1 would open the PLA to criticism by 
bloggers and netizens, who would accuse those who held the 
DPCTs of selling out their country by having a friendly 
meeting with the U.S. DOD, which then immediately issued a 
"hostile report."  At a dinner later the same day, senior 
members of the PLA delegation made the same point in stronger 
terms, focusing on the criticism they would face personally 
from the increasingly influential web community in China. 
 
Nonproliferation Dialogues 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. (S) Sedney urged China to be ready to resume the Assistant 
Secretary-level Nonproliferation Dialogue as well as the 
Under Secretary-level Security Dialogue once new officials 
were in place in the new administration.  Liu said China and 
the United States shared "common interests" in 
nonproliferation, were "cooperating very closely" on North 
Korea and Iran, and had "good bilateral cooperation" on "some 
specific cases" to "avoid suspicious transfers of controlled 
items."  China intended "to continue" in this manner, said 
Liu, so "let's keep in touch" about the various dialogues. 
 
North Korea 
----------- 
 
¶6.  (S) Sedney emphasized the importance of the U.S.-China 
collaboration in the Six-Party Talks process, but warned that 
a North Korean missile launch would have "serious effects," 
including setting back efforts to denuclearize the Korean 
peninsula.  "China doesn't have as much influence as you 
think," Liu responded, but it had been "talking to North 
Korea about this issue."  China desired all sides to "keep 
calm and exercise restraint."  Liu said three things were 
very important to China: maintaining peace and stability in 
the region; keeping the Six-Party Talks going; and working 
with the Permanent Security Council members to address the 
issue. 
 
¶7.  (S) At the DPCT dinner that night, PLA senior officers 
asked about reports that U.S. officials had threatened to 
shoot down the DPRK launch vehicle.  They pointed out that 
such a U.S. "threat" would have the opposite effect than 
intended.  The North Koreans were very proud and would react 
to threats by being intransigent. 
 
Remains Recovery 
---------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Sedney said the United States appreciates China's 
help in facilitating the recovery of the remains of U.S. 
servicemembers in China, and noted the upcoming visit in 
April by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles Ray to 
further these efforts.  Liu said China was ready to assist. 
 
¶9. (U) DASD Sedney cleared this message. 
PICCUTA