Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING16165
2006-08-07 08:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

WU DAWEI AND BOUCHER TALK NEPAL AND (NO)

Tags:  PREL PGOV CH XD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 016165 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH XD
SUBJECT: WU DAWEI AND BOUCHER TALK NEPAL AND (NO)
CIVIL-NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH PAKISTAN

BEIJING 00016165 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Classified by Political Minister Counselor Daniel
Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 016165

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH XD
SUBJECT: WU DAWEI AND BOUCHER TALK NEPAL AND (NO)
CIVIL-NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH PAKISTAN

BEIJING 00016165 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Classified by Political Minister Counselor Daniel
Shields. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei told Assistant
Secretary Richard Boucher the purpose of Wu's visit to

SIPDIS
Nepal was to show China's support for Nepal's new
government. China believes the United Nations can
play a positive role in the process of stabilizing
Nepal's political situation. Wu asked why the United
States has taken different positions on civil nuclear
assistance to India and Pakistan. Boucher responded
by highlighting the very different track records of
the two countries on proliferation. Pakistan must
significantly improve its record on nonproliferation
before any civil nuclear assistance could be
considered. Wu said that following the U.S. agreement
with India, Pakistan approached China requesting the
same kind of package. Wu suggested that the United
States seriously consider cooperating with Pakistan on
civil nuclear issues in order to help Islamabad feel
more secure. End Summary.

Wu Discusses Trip to Nepal
--------------


2. (C) Visiting Assistant Secretary for South and
Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher met with Vice
Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on August 1 to discuss South
Asian issues. Wu said the purpose of his recent trip
to Nepal was to show China's support for the new
government. The seven political parties have not been
able to successfully rule the country so far, said Wu,
noting that this may be due to Nepalese tradition and
culture. Boucher asked whether the political parties
would be able to remain united and choose a new Prime
Minister if the Prime Minister were incapacitated. Wu
responded that the political situation is more likely
to stabilize if the seven parties stay united, adding
that the United States and China should work together
to support the parties.


3. (C) Wu observed that there are now three political
forces operating in Nepal. The first is the King and
pro-monarchy forces that use their traditional power

to influence the political situation. The seven
political parties that emerged from the democratic
movement but appear to be returning to their previous
positions constitute the second major force. Wu
commented that the military has now declared its
loyalty to the democratic movement, though it was once
the King's main support. "Anti-government forces"
that embarked on a path of armed struggle against the
government after failing to merge with the political
parties comprise the final major force, according to
Wu. They are now trying to reintegrate themselves
into the political process, Wu stated, though it is
unclear whether the "anti-government forces" will be
able to secure their position. The seven parties are
confident that the "anti-government forces" can be
reintegrated into the political process, but there are
many unknowns about the political future of Nepal, Wu
said, stressing that no one can predict the result of
the struggle between the three forces.

Disarming the Maoists
--------------


4. (C) Wu said that during his visit he had met with
the United Nations Special Representative in Nepal.
China believes the United Nations can play a positive
role in the process of stabilizing Nepal's political
situation. Boucher stated that the United States has
not supported the United Nations' taking on a
mediating role in Nepal but thinks it could be
effective in assisting with disarming and demobilizing
the Maoists. The Maoists must give up guns and
violence if they are to enter the political process,

BEIJING 00016165 002.2 OF 003


Boucher said, stressing that Nepal's political parties
and outside countries should be firm with the Maoists
on this point. Wu assessed that the Maoists are not
opposed to giving up their arms, but the group likely
believes keeping weapons increases the likelihood of
taking power. It is important for the political
parties to have more contact with the Maoists and
convey the message that giving up their arms is part
of the political process, Wu said.

China Sees India as More Influential in Nepal
--------------


5. (C) Boucher asked if Wu had coordinated with India
on his trip to Nepal. Wu said that the he had not,
though China is in close communication with India in
general on the topic of Nepal's political situation.
India has much greater influence with Nepal than
China, Wu said. Both countries agree on the
importance of having stability in Nepal, he stressed.

Pakistan Seeks Civil Nuclear Assistance
--------------


6. (C) Wu asked why the United States has taken
different positions with India and Pakistan regarding
civil nuclear assistance. Boucher responded that
India and Pakistan have different situations,
different histories and different nonproliferation
records. India has a strong nonproliferation record
and has made efforts to further improve its controls.
Pakistan does not have the same record, Boucher
stated. Wu responded that after the United States
signed the civil nuclear agreement with India,
Pakistan approached China asking for such assistance.
A troublesome pattern has emerged in which the United
States is assisting India and China is assisting
Pakistan, Wu said. He added that "if we continue in
this direction there will be stability problems."


7. (C) Asked to clarify the nature of China's
assistance to Pakistan, Wu stated that he was
referring to past energy agreements with Pakistan that
have not yet been completed and would not require
Nuclear Suppliers Group consensus. The United States
recognizes that Pakistan has an energy problem,
Boucher stated. The United States is providing non-
nuclear energy assistance and hopes that hopes China
and other countries will help in similar ways with
Pakistan's energy problem. A civil-nuclear agreement
with Pakistan, by China or others, would find no
support in the U.S. Congress or in the international
community, Boucher noted. We are already having
difficulty getting many European donors to give to
Pakistan now, as a military-led state. A nuclear deal
would make this even more difficult. He pointed out
that the Pakistani people will be happy to have
electricity, regardless whether it came from a
hydropower plant or a nuclear power plant. Wu
countered by asking how the United States can ask
Pakistan to be satisfied with a hydropower plant from
China after India signed a civil nuclear agreement
with the United States. Boucher responded that
Pakistan receives eight or nine times more U.S.
assistance than India and special initiatives in the
areas of education, energy and trade, even though the
Pakistani population is only one fifth of India's.
The United States can develop an appropriate
relationship with both countries, Boucher stated. Wu
asked whether U.S. nuclear assistance to India
includes India's military programs. Boucher responded
that the agreement only applies to India's civil
nuclear program.

China Suggests U.S. Civil Nuclear Assistance to
Pakistan
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Wu requested that the U.S. consider certain
circumstances under which it might cooperate with

BEIJING 00016165 003.2 OF 003


Pakistan on the nuclear side. The U.S. needs to do
this, Wu said, to make Islamabad feel more safe and
equal. Boucher reiterated that Pakistan's
nonproliferation record is not of the same caliber as
India's. The United States has made clear to Pakistan
that we could only consider providing assistance if
Pakistan improves its track record on
nonproliferation.


9. (U) Assistant Secretary Boucher cleared this
cable.
RANDT