CHINA MILITARY ASSISTANCE ARRIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002596 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015 TAGS: PREL MCAP PTER NP SUBJECT: CHINA MILITARY ASSISTANCE ARRIVES REF: KATHMANDU 2516 Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard, Reason 1.4 (b/d) Chinese Military Aid Arrived - But What Is It? -------------- - ¶1. (C) On November 25, Kantipur News, a private media organization, broke the news that Nepal had received 18 truckloads of military equipment from China. An initial RNA statement posted on-line said that the trucks contained lethal and non-lethal assistance. However, within hours that statement was withdrawn and an edited version said only that non-lethal military hardware had arrived. The outgoing RNA spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Deepak Gurung, told the press that it was a regular shipment that contained only non-lethal assistance. However, according to the Indian Defense Attache, the shipment contained 4 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, which can be used in the RNA's self-loading rifles (carried by about half of its soldiers). The Director of Military Intelligence avoided answering our questions requesting more information about the shipment. Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) We will continue to seek confirmation of the shipment's actual content. The RNA's silence allows the government to continue to play the China card. Even if the shipment contained lethal assistance, including SLR ammunition, the RNA still has not solved its problem of acquiring more ammunition for its INSAS rifles and M-16s, the weapons about half of its soldiers carry and which use 5.56mm caliber ammunition. Embassy has also learned that COAS Thapa will travel December 12-17 to Pakistan, where he may seek to take up Pakistan's offer of military assistance. MILLARD