Press Interpreter

10/12/06 -- Q: State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visited the United States yesterday. What was the purpose of this visit? What important officials accompanied him on the visit?

A: State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan acted as Chairman Hu Jintao’s special representative yesterday afternoon opening Beijing’s engaging in making visits to the U.S. and Russia. His important responsibility for this visit was to exchange opinions with the U.S. and Russia regarding current situation on the Korean Peninsula. Important people accompanying him included Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Deputy Chief of Mission He Yafei, and some other high level State Department officials.

Q: Does the Chinese government plan to dispatch a special envoy to North Korea? When would the envoy be dispatched?

A: There are many channels for China to exchange opinions on the Korean Peninsula situation with the five other parties of the Six Party Talks. Sending a special envoy is only one method. We will continue to follow appropriate measures, and to engage in communication by the method decided upon with the other five parties. The important objective is to have each party return to the negotiation table of the Six Party Talks, and resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through consultation and dialogue.

Q: At the last regular press conference, you said that “punishment� should not be used, describing the measures adopted by the UN towards the North Korean nuclear test. China’s permanent representative to the UN, Wang Guangya, however, stated that the UN response to North Korea would be “punitive� measures. Does this mean that there has been a change in China’s position?

A: China’s position has not changed. The position of the Chinese government is constant and consistent. Punishment is not the objective. Suitable, effective, moderate measures should be adopted, making each party realize that achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula suits the interests of all parties. With this sort of important issue, each side should adopt the proper position, return to the negotiating table, and avoid any action that would cause the situation to worsen, in order to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue peacefully through means of consultation and dialogue. This is our firm stance and position.

Q: Has Chairman Hu Jintao, acting as head of state, issued a statement on the North Korean nuclear test? We have seen that the heads of state of other countries have already issued statements, but if Chairman Hu Jintao has not, why? Also, what was the highest level at which there was communication between China and North Korea after the nuclear test?

A: As for your first question, the statement of the Chinese Department of State has already completely, totally expounded upon the Chinese government’s current position on the current Korean Peninsula situation.

As for your second question, China and North Korea, along with the other parties of the Six Party Talks, and related parties who have not participated in the Six Party Talks, the EU and Canada for example, have all engaged in communication and exchange at different levels. Each party has expounded upon its own current view of the Korean Peninsula situation.

Follow-up question: What level of Chinese officials have engaged in discussion with North Korea?

I understand that you are very interested in this, but I’m sorry, I currently do not have any information that I can provide you.

Q: Will the UN Security Council cite the seventh article of the “United Nations Charter� to sanction North Korea, and what will China’s position on this be? Are there any special prerequisites?

A: China and the related parties of the UN Security Council are currently moving towards what suitable actions the UN should take and engaging in discussion about a suitable resolution. We hope that these discussions can assist diplomatic efforts, and assist in the peaceful resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through consultation and dialogue. We must carry out analysis of relevant suggestions on the basis of this type of determination. Currently what everyone is discussing is a complete proposal, the content of which is very complicated. It’s difficult for me to make comments on a specific article.

Q: China has close economic ties with North Korea, and also provides North Korea with economic and humanitarian assistance. Will China cut off or limit this kind of ties with North Korea?

A: China is committed to the developing neighborly, friendly, cooperative relations between China and North Korea, and the friendship between the people of China and North Korea is deep. Secondly, China has provided as much economic aid as is within its power to North Korea for a long time. The main objective is to help improve the lives and livelihood of the North Korea people. This has been the policy upheld by the Chinese government for a long time, because it is beneficial to the improvement of the North Korea people’s living situation.

Q: The Japanese government has already decided unilaterally to implement sanctions more severe than the Security Council draft resolution. What comments does China have about this? China has always opposed sanctioning North Korea, has it changed its position now?

A: What policy Japan adopts is a matter of concern and decision for the Japanese government. China’s attitude regarding issues relating to the Korean Peninsula situation is very clear; we hope that the related parties react calmly to the current situation, and that any measures adopted should help peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through dialogue and consultation.

Q: What specific measures does the Chinese government believe are suitable? The South Korean President, Roh Moo-hyun, will engage in making a visit to China. Please describe the purpose of this visit. With whom will he have discussions?

A: China supports the UN Security Council in taking suitable actions towards the Korean Peninsula situation. As for what specific actions, the related parties are engaging in discussion, and many stances have been proposed. China is also having positive discussions with each party.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will make a visit to China tomorrow. During the visit, Chairman Hu Jintao, National Council Chairman Wu Bang, and Premier Wen Jiabao will have separate discussions and meetings with him. The two countries’ leaders will exchange views on two major issues; the first is China-South Korea relations, and the second is the issue of the Korean Peninsula situation. We believe that this visit will make positive advancements toward strengthening China-South Korea overall cooperative partner relationship.

Q: Will China measure the nuclear radiation of the North Korean nuclear test?

A: At a press conference on Tuesday I already explained the situation to everyone. As of today, we have not discovered that the North Korean nuclear test has had any radiological effect on China.

Q: There are critics who say that sanctions on North Korea will only be effective if imposed by China. What view do you have on this? The unofficial APEC leaders’ conference will be held in Vietnam. Taiwanese officials have said that due to pressure from China, Vietnam has not sent a special envoy to Taiwan to deliver an invitation letter, please confirm.

A: As for the first question you posed, I have already reiterated the Chinese government’s position on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the North Korean nuclear test issue many times. I believe that punishment is not the goal; related measures should be advantageous for the achievement of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, advantageous for maintaining the peace and stability of the peninsula, and advantageous for the resumption of the Six Party Talks.
The memorandum of understanding regarding APEC has clear regulations and consensus of both China and Taibei participating in APEC related conferences. We hope and believe that Vietnam can act appropriately regarding the issue according to the One China Policy upheld by Vietnam, and according to the APEC related regulations and consensus.

Q: If the U.S. putting pressure on North Korea is believed to be an act of war, as was stated in an announcement issued by North Korea yesterday, what reaction will China issue to this? Does China believe that discussing acts of war now is beneficial?

A: China’s starting point in handling the Korean Peninsula nuclear situation is achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula. Under the current circumstances, North Korea should cease any actions that could worsen the situation. Other related parties should react calmly, taking suitable steps towards resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through dialogue and consultation, and return to the Six Party Talks, which would suit everyone’s interests. China resolutely opposes using military action to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Q: Will China be able to accept the UN Security Council resolution proposed by the United States? Will China support the UN condemning North Korea?

A: I believe that it is necessary for the UN Security Council to take appropriate action in reaction to the issue of the North Korean nuclear test. The UN is currently engaging in intense discussions of relevant suggestions and opinions. China is also conducting earnest investigations of this issue with related parties. Under the current circumstances, I am unable to disclose any more details.

Q: You said that the measures the UN takes should not be to punish North Korea, so China believes that North Korea should not be punished for carrying out a nuclear test?

A: We believe that it is necessary to indicate clearly to North Korea that North Korea carrying out a nuclear test is an erroneous action that will not be tolerated by the international community. At the same time, it is also necessary to indicate clearly to North Korea that achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula accordingly includes the internal interests of North Korea as well as those of other related parties. North Korea should return to the negotiating table of the Six Party Talks as soon as possible, and resolve the related issues through dialogue and consultation.

Q: Do you believe that the U.S. and North Korea should arrange bilateral discussions before returning to the Six Party Talks? If North Korea engages in more nuclear tests, how will China react? Also, if because of the current circumstances, Japan develops a guided missile defense system, what position will China take?

A: As for the question of the U.S. and North Korea having direct dialogue, we have thought all along that the U.S. and North Korea act as primary concerned parties of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. If contact and dialogue can be strengthened they will play a positive role in promoting mutual trust, strengthening understanding and reducing differences. If it is currently more difficult to engage in bilateral dialogue, from the perspective of previous practices, help can continue to come from the platform of the Six Party Talks. The Six Party Talks are currently still the most effective means for resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. This is also an important reason that China persists in the belief that returning to the Six Party Talks should be returned to as soon as possible.

As for the second question you posed, the Chinese government, through a state department announcement, has already indicated that China requests that North Korea not engage in any more actions that would worsen the situation.

As for the third question you posed, We understand Japan’s concern, and believe that actions in this regard should be helpful to local peace and stability and helpful to the prevention of the situation escalating and worsening.

Q: With whom will State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan meet in America? In representing Chairman Hu Jintao in Washington, what specific information will he relay? Also, will Secretary of State Rice soon visit China?

A: As for the first question you posed, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will act as Chairman Hu Jintao’s special representative engaging in a visit to America, and he will exchange opinions with high level American officials on the Korean Peninsula issue. The visit is currently underway, and after I receive further news I will be able to explain the situation to everyone more.
As for the second question you posed, China and the U.S. are both currently engaging in communication about making arrangements for Secretary of State Rice to visit China. As there is further news I will issue it at the proper time.

If there are no other questions, the press conference will end here. Thank you all for attending!

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Via Xinhua Net

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