US embassy cable - 05HANOI2027

UNCLAS HANOI 002027 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/FO, EAP/BCLTV 
NSC FOR GREEN 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC, ETRD, ECIN, VM, APECO, APEC, CVR 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: AMBASSADOR MEETS VICE FOREIGN MINISTER 
DZUNG TO DISCUSS APEC EXPORT CONTROL CONFERENCE 
 
REF: STATE 145437 
 
1. (SBU)  The Ambassador met Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Vice Minister Vu Dzung August 9 to deliver Reftel A points 
about the October 3-6 Export Control Conference in Hanoi. 
Vice Minister Dzung expressed his full understanding of the 
importance of continuing to hold this conference, but said 
Vietnam remains under pressure from China to exclude Taiwan 
and Hong Kong.  He requested that the United States approach 
China for further discussions and to find a compromise such 
as inviting Hong Kong and Taiwan in "some lesser capacity." 
The Ambassador responded that to exclude Taiwan and Hong 
Kong or to have them participate as less than full members 
would be unacceptable as it would set a precedent for China 
to exclude APEC economies from future events. 
 
2. (SBU)  VFM Dzung asked for more time to work on the 
issue.  The Ambassador stressed that time is short, 
emphasizing that we need an answer by the close of business 
tomorrow (August 10).  The Ambassador told VFM Dzung absent 
a positive decision by Vietnam to move ahead with the 
logistical arrangements and the issuance of invitations, 
Washington will take steps to move the conference to another 
venue.  In response, Vice Minister Dzung said that he 
"understands the message" but is "caught in a difficult" 
situation.  He promised to redouble his efforts to schedule 
a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to settle this issue 
before providing us a final answer. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment.  Thanks to this discussion and a meeting 
yesterday with Office of the Government Vice Chairman Nguyen 
Quoc Huy (septel), the Vietnamese are painfully aware just 
how important this issue is.  At this point, it is too close 
to call on whether the Vietnamese will take our advice to 
call Beijing's bluff by mailing out the invitations.  End 
Comment. 
 
MARINE