PRC/BURMA: BEIJING STRONGLY OPPOSES UNSC RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 024497

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2026
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM CH
SUBJECT: PRC/BURMA: BEIJING STRONGLY OPPOSES UNSC RESOLUTION

Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).

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


1. (C) The PRC "strongly opposes" a UN Security Council
Resolution on Burma and would consider using its veto, MFA
International Organizations Department UN Affairs Division
Director Yang Tao told Poloffs December 13 in response to
reftel message. Though the PRC shares many of the U.S.
concerns about the worsening problems in Burma, Beijing
rejects the idea that they pose a threat to international
peace and security warranting action by the Security Council.
Highlighting our desire to work with the PRC on Burma,
Poloffs urged China not to block the resolution from moving
forward and cautioned against casting a veto. End Summary


2. (C) Poloffs delivered reftel message December 13 to MFA
International Organizations Department UN Affairs Division
Director Yang Tao. Yang said that China recognizes that
there are serious problems in Burma and is dissatisfied with
the Burmese regime. These very real problems are internal
and "do not at this time" constitute a threat to
international peace and security requiring a Security Council
Resolution, he argued, stating that China "strongly opposes"
a resolution. Commenting that while in principle, China
always has three choices when voting at the UNSC, Yang said
that in practice Beijing's options are usually to support or
abstain. Stating that should a Burma resolution come to a
vote China would have only two choices, Yang cautioned that
"voting yes is not one of them" and that

Burma is not Darfur
--------------


3. (C) Referring to recent discussions on Sudan, Yang said
that Beijing understood that vetoing a Darfur resolution
would cause serious harm to bilateral relations with the
United States. Burma is a completely different case, Yang
insisted, arguing the PRC will not accept any linkage of a
possible UNSC veto to overall U.S.-China relations. He said
several times that China would be willing to work with the
United States to find a "more appropriate" vehicle to make
clear to the Burmese regime the international community's
growing dissatisfaction.


4. (C) Noting Beijing's assessment that the United States is
pushing for a vote on a Burma resolution before the end of
the year because the incoming Security Council members are
less likely to support the U.S. position, Yang noted that
there are certain ways to delay action at the UNSC. He said
that Beijing assumes that the United States must be very
confident of having nine votes in order to move a resolution
now. Claiming that the Non-Aligned Movement sent a letter to
the UNSC President December 11 opposing a UNSC resolution on
Burma, Yang said the PRC believes it is competing with the
United States to win support from the Africans and Japan.
Yang claimed that many countries with similar problems worry
that they might be next if the Security Council passes a
resolution in based on the idea that Burma's "human rights
problems and drugs" pose a threat to international peace and
security. He closed by arguing that Burma's neighbors should
be expected to be the most concerned by its potential threat
to peace and security. He insisted that none of Burma's
neighbors support a UNSC resolution, which is supported only
by countries that are far away.

Threat Serious, UNSC Must Take Action
--------------


5. (C) Drawing from reftel, poloffs rejected Yang's argument,
stressing that the deteriorating domestic situation caused by
the Burmese junta's attacks on civilians and other human
rights violations clearly constitute a serious threat.
Highlighting our appreciation for bilateral discussion that
has highlighted many shared concerns about Burma's internal
problems, poloffs stressed that a UNSC resolution will send
the kind of signal that might make clear to the junta the
consequences of its behavior and head off further
deterioration. Noting U.S. desire to work with China on
Burma, poloffs cautioned against Beijing working to block the
resolution from moving forward, stressing the egative impact
of a PRC veto.
Randt