US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI208

S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 000208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/ICI/CI AND DS/IP/AF 
ADDIS ABABA AND ASMARA FOR RSO 
CJTF-HOA FOR J2, J2X AND MARCENT S-2 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2029 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: POSSIBLE CI INCIDENT 
 
REF: 04 STATE 102336 
 
Classified By: RSO MARC RAMOS FOR REASON 1.4 (C,D) 
 
1. (S/NF) On Thursday February 24, 2005, Embassy Djibouti 
received an envelope from the Chinese Embassy in Djibouti 
containing a business proposition on behalf of the Chinese 
construction company "Chine Dji-Fu Sarl (formerly CSCEC)". 
In the proposition, the Chinese construction company briefly 
outlines its history in Djibouti and includes a detailed 
pamphlet of construction projects it has undertaken in the 
past 20 years.  The business proposition is aimed at 
providing similar services to the U.S. Military located at 
Camp Lemonier. 
 
2. (S/NF) On Saturday February 26, 2005 at approximately 1000 
hours, a man of Asian decent drove up and parked his vehicle 
at the North end perimeter of the U.S. Embassy compound. 
After a few minutes the man exited his vehicle and proceeded 
to the Jersey barrier located in the middle of the street and 
began taking measurements of the barrier.  Upon noticing this 
odd behavior, Embassy guards and Host Nation Police detained 
the individual.  The Embassy guard tried to speak to the man 
in English and French, but the man only used sign language 
and Chinese claiming that he did not understand the Guard. 
The man presented an identification card from the seaport of 
Djibouti with the organization denoted as "CSCEC" and his 
name "Zhu Hanzhou".  RSO responded, but was unable to 
communicate with the man.  RSO then contacted the director of 
the company, Mr. Zhang Jian, who arrived shortly thereafter. 
The Director corroborated that the man worked with his 
company.  The Director stated that the construction company 
was doing a security upgrade project for the sea port and 
that the individual was directed to take measurements of the 
barriers located at the Embassy perimeter as examples.  RSO 
explained to the director that the Embassy is not to be used 
as a "display case" of security features and that they should 
seek their information elsewhere.  The Director apologized 
several times and assured RSO that this sort of incident 
would not occur a second time and departed the area. 
 
3. (S/NF) RSO Comments: In and of itself, neither the 
business proposal nor the barrier incident appear to be of 
any intelligence consequence to the Embassy or the U.S. 
Military and individually are not out of the ordinary 
incidents.  However, the near term association of both 
occurrences is a strange coincidence that merits scrutiny. 
CSCEC has been in Djibouti and in business for over 20 years, 
but it has not been until the arrival of the U.S. Military 
that they have shown interest in the prospect of providing 
construction services to the USG.  It must be noted that 
China maintains strong diplomatic relations with Djibouti and 
is a major aid donor.  The past two years has seen an 
increase of Chinese ex-patriates residing in Djibouti for 
various reasons (Diplomats, construction companies, 
automotive and electrical technicians, etc.) 
 
4. (U) POC is RSO Marc Ramos at 253-35-39-95 or 253-35-09-49 
(secure). 
RAGSDALE