Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING15563
2006-07-27 14:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

TFLE01: CCID OFFICIAL REFRAINS FROM CALLING FOR

Tags:  PREL MARR KPKO CH IS LE 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJA #5563 2081423
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWCSE2310 2081437
O 271423Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 015563 

SIPDIS



SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2031
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO CH IS LE
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CCID OFFICIAL REFRAINS FROM CALLING FOR
IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN LEBANON

REF: A. BEIJING 15442


B. BEIJING 15438

CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DAVID S. SEDNEY.
REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 015563

SIPDIS



SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2031
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO CH IS LE
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CCID OFFICIAL REFRAINS FROM CALLING FOR
IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN LEBANON

REF: A. BEIJING 15442


B. BEIJING 15438

CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DAVID S. SEDNEY.
REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) ALTHOUGH CHINA IS UPSET ABOUT THE DEATH OF A
CHINESE UNIFIL PEACEKEEPER IN LEBANON AND INTRODUCED A
UNSC PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT (PRST) CONDEMNING THE
ATTACK, CENTRAL COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
(CCID) MIDEAST DIVISION DIRECTOR JIAO ZHIXIN SAID
CHINA IS NOT INSISTING ON A RETURN TO THE PRE-
ABDUCTION STATUS QUO. HE DID NOT CALL FOR A
CEASEFIRE. JIAO SAID THAT THE PRC HAS REFRAINED FROM
CRITICIZING ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO HEZBOLLAH'S
ABDUCTIONS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS, BECAUSE, IN THIS CASE,
HEZBOLLAH WAS THE AGGRESSOR. HE STATED, HOWEVER, THAT
IN HIS PERSONAL OPINION ISRAEL HAS NOW OVERREACTED.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) ISRAEL'S BOMBING OF THE UN POST AT KHAIM AND
THE DEATH OF THE FOUR UNIFIL OBSERVERS, INCLUDING A
CHINESE CITIZEN, DEEPLY TROUBLES CHINA ACCORDING TO
JIAO ZHIXIN, DIVISION DIRECTOR OF CCID BUREAU III
WHICH COVERS THE MIDDLE EAST, N. AFRICA, TURKEY,
AFGHANISTAN AND CYPRESS. JIAO HOPED THE US WOULD
SUPPORT THE CHINESE-SPONSORED PRST CONDEMNING THE
BOMBING. HOWEVER, HE STOPPED SHORT OF OPENLY
CRITICIZING ISRAEL, SIMPLY NOTING THAT KOFI ANAN
ACCUSED ISRAEL OF DELIBERATELY BOMBING THE UN SITE AND
STATING CHINA HAD CALLED ON ISRAEL TO PERFORM A FULL
INVESTIGATION. "WHETHER OR NOT THE BOMBING WAS
INTENTIONAL, THE ATTACK SHOWS THAT CHINA CANNOT ESCAPE
BEING AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST,"
JIAO COMMENTED.


3. (C) WHEN ASKED IF BEIJING CONSIDERED A RETURN TO
THE POST-ABDUCTION STATUS QUO IN LEBANON A VIABLE
SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT FIGHTING, JIAO STATED THAT
CHINA'S GOAL IS NOT A RETURN TO THE STATUS QUO, BUT TO
OBTAIN PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. HE DID NOT
CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE OR UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE, AND
ONLY SAID THAT CHINA BELIEVED THE BEST CHANCE FOR A
SOLUTION LIES IN DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS.


4. (C) JIAO ATTRIBUTED CHINA'S RELATIVELY MUTED
PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT HEZBOLLAH'S
INCURSIONS STARTED THE CONFLICT. IN THE WAKE OF THE
UNIFIL BOMBING, CHINA HAS MOVED QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE IN THE UN, JIAO NOTED, COMMENTING THAT HE
BELIEVES NOW THAT ISRAEL HAS GONE TOO FAR IN ITS
REACTION TO THE HEZBOLLAH ABDUCTIONS. HE ASSERTED
THAT THE OVERREACTION IS BETTER EXPLAINED BY ISRAELS
DESIRE TO DIMINISH HEZBOLLAHS MILITARY STRENGTH, BUT
COMMENTED THAT HEZBOLLAH'S STRENGTH REMAINS ALMOST
UNDIMINISHED, WHILE CIVILIAN LOSSES AND NUMBERS OF
DISPLACED PERSONS MOUNT.

RANDT