US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK7460

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 007460 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/CM 
OSD FOR OSD/ISA (CHINA AND THAILAND) 
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, MASS, MARR, CH, TH, China 
SUBJECT: CHINESE EMBASSY WANTS TO BUILD LINKS WITH U.S. 
EMBASSY IN BANGKOK 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Alexander A. Arvizu.  Reason 1.4 
 (a and d) 
 
 1.  (C)  Summary.  As part of our ongoing effort to follow 
China's growing influence in Thailand, the Ambassador hosted 
a reception on December 1 for the PRC Embassy at the 
Residence.  Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan called for 
greater dialogue between the U.S. and China on a wide variety 
of issues and endorsed more frequent contact between the two 
embassies.  Zhang will host a reception for the U.S. Embassy 
during Chinese New Year.  The Chinese Defense Attache was 
extremely well-briefed on recent exchanges between senior 
U.S. and Chinese military officials and suggested that 
Beijing would welcome bilateral cooperation on maritime 
security, disaster prevention and PKO training in Southeast 
Asia.  The Chinese DCM is slated to be the PRC's next 
Ambassador to Laos.  End Summary. 
 
REGULAR GET TOGETHER 
 
2.  (C)  As part of post's effort to monitor more closely PRC 
relations with Thailand and ASEAN, the Ambassador hosted a 
reception for 23 members of the Chinese Embassy on December 1 
at the Residence.  Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan and 
Defense Attache, Senior Colonel An Zuoshan, were the senior 
Chinese present.  Ambassador Zhang made it clear that he 
welcomes the opportunity to build a relationship with the 
Embassy and suggested that there are a number of issues in 
Thailand that lend themselves to cooperation between the 
United States and China.  Beyond Avian Flu and counter 
narcotics, Zhang noted that both countries have an interest 
in maritime security.  Zhang, a former DG for the PRC MFA's 
Asia Department, suggested that Thailand provides a 
convenient venue to discuss regional issues as well.  Of 
note, neither Zhang nor An mentioned our differences over 
Taiwan. 
 
PRC DEFENSE ATTACHE SUGGESTS GREATER MIL MIL COOPERATION 
SOUGHT BY BEIJING 
 
3.  (C)  Senior Colonel An (a Brigadier equivalent) was 
extremely well briefed on recent high-level visits by U.S. 
defense officials to Beijing.  He said that the highlights of 
Secretary Rumsfeld's October meeting with PRC Defense 
 
SIPDIS 
Minister General Cao Gangchuan had been widely circulated 
within the PLA and that China was sincere in its desire to 
find areas of mutual interest and cooperation.  An was also 
knowledgeable about PACOM Commander ADM Fallon's recent trip 
to Beijing during which Fallon called for greater 
transparency within the PLA.  An told PolOff that we must 
work together to avoid future crises such as the Belgrade 
Embassy bombing and the EP-3 incident.  "It is our job in the 
field to find ways to build trust," he said. 
 
4.  (C)  An served as the Chinese Defense Attache in 
Kyrgyzstan in the late 1990's, during which he shaped a 
number of counter terrorism programs under the aegis of the 
Shanghai Cooperation Organization.  He highlighted Sino-U.S. 
cooperation in counter terrorism as a major factor in 
improving bilateral relations.  He suggested that China was 
interested in building on that cooperation in Southeast Asia 
by jointly looking at maritime security issues.  He also 
mentioned disaster relief preparation and peace keeping 
training as other areas worth exploring together. 
 
CHINESE DCM TO BE NEW AMBASSADOR TO LAOS 
 
5.  (C)  PRC DCM Pan Guangxue was unable to attend the 
reception. Nonetheless, his staff informed us that Pan is to 
be the PRC's next Ambassador to Laos.  Previously, Pan told 
us about his command of the Lao language and his having 
served as former President Jiang Zemin's interpreter on trips 
to Vientiane. 
 
BIO NOTES 
 
6.  (C)  Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan was born in 1947 in 
Guangxi.  He is married to Tang Lizhen, a former Education 
Ministry official.  They have one son.  Zhang speaks 
excellent Thai and passable English.  He has previously 
served as DG for the Asian Department at the PRC MFA and as 
Ambassador to Singapore and Nepal.  He is purported to be a 
protege of former Vice-Premier Qian Qichen. 
Senior Colonel An Zuoshan was born in 1950 in Jilin.  He is 
married to Wang Ling.  They have a 28 year old married 
daughter.  An speaks excellent Russian and good English.  He 
is an expert on counter terrorism and Central Asia. 
Engaging, intelligent and well-informed, An is a vast 
improvement over the previous Chinese DATT.  We view his 
appointment to Bangkok as another example of the PRC's 
emphasis on putting top-flight staff into their embassy here. 
BOYCE