US embassy cable - 08BEIJING1164

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001164 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/P/MECU (FOR JOHN HURLEY), DS/DSS/DO (FOR EDGAR 
MORENO), DS/FLD/SFFO (FOR JOSEPH PATRICK DURKIN), 
DS/DSS/OSAC (FOR CHRIS MEDEIROS), DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, 
DS/DO/P (FOR NANCY ROLPH), DS/ICI/CI, EAP/CM, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2033 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, KOLY, ASEC, CH 
SUBJECT: CHINA CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY FOR SAN FRANCISCO 
TORCH RELAY AND "ANTI-CHINA" CONGRESSIONAL SENTIMENT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 1146 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs, a.i. Daniel Piccuta.  Reasons 1.4 (b/d 
). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) China is "gravely concerned" about security for the 
April 9 San Francisco Torch Relay participants and their 
charter plane, said MFA Director General Zheng Zeguang, 
during a March 26 meeting with the Charge.  China expects 
"anti-China forces" to step up their efforts to sabotage the 
event and asked for USG help in ensuring a "smooth" relay. 
On a separate note, Zheng hopes the Administration will "use 
its influence" and urge Congress to refrain from issuing 
anti-China resolutions.  The public response in China to such 
statements could be detrimental to the bilateral 
relationship, Zheng warned.  End Summary. 
 
San Francisco Torch Relay 
------------------------- 
 
2.(C) China is "gravely concerned" about security for the 
April 8-9 San Francisco Torch Relay event, said MFA Director 
General of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department 
Zheng Zeguang, during a March 26 meeting with the Charge. 
Following the violence in Tibet, China expected supporters of 
the Dalai Lama, East Turkestan, Falun Gong and "other 
anti-China forces" to step up their efforts to sabotage the 
relay event, stated Zheng.  The recent attacks against PRC 
diplomatic missions, including the attempted arson at the PRC 
Consulate General in San Francisco, demonstrate that "Dalai 
Lama followers" will go the "extra mile" to disrupt this 
upcoming event, he noted.  The PRC Consul General in San 
Francisco has raised security concerns with U.S. federal and 
local law enforcement agencies, Zheng said. 
 
3. (C) Zheng urged the Charge to convey China's "high degree 
of concern" regarding the relay's security arrangements to 
Washington and asked for USG help in ensuring a "smooth" 
Torch Relay for Chinese and American participants.  Zheng 
also expressed concern regarding security for the PRC's 
charter aircraft at the airport.  (Note: AFM Liu Jieyi 
conveyed similar points to the U.S. Ambassador at Large for 
Counterterrorism Dell Dailey on March 26. (See septel) End 
Note.) 
 
4. (C) The Charge said that the United States is prepared to 
do our best to protect the relay participants as well as the 
PRC's charter plane.  Zheng added that China appreciates 
President Bush's comments opposing the politicization of the 
Olympics and looks forward to his participation. 
 
"Anti-China" Congressional Resolutions 
-------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) On a separate note, Zheng said he had heard rumors 
that the U.S. Congress might put forward "anti-China" 
resolutions or statements and hold hearings on Tibet and 
other issues.  The United States should focus on the facts, 
he said, instead of the information "disseminated by the 
Dalai clique."  Foreign journalists are currently in Lhasa, 
reported Zheng.  The violence in Tibet is not an issue of 
human rights, Zheng emphasized, but a criminal issue.  The 
United States should focus on the positive momentum of the 
bilateral relationship and make statements "consistent with 
the facts," he said.  Zheng hopes the Administration will use 
its influence and urge Congress to refrain from issuing 
"anti-China" resolutions.  The public response in China to 
such resolutions could be "detrimental" to the bilateral 
relationship, Zheng warned. 
 
6. (C) The Charge noted Zheng's concerns and said he would 
pass the Chinese message to Washington. 
PICCUTA