CHINA SEEKS ACCOMMODATION ON UNSC BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 024644

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USUN FOR PHEE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC ASEAN BM CH
SUBJECT: CHINA SEEKS ACCOMMODATION ON UNSC BURMA
RESOLUTION; WARNS CONFLICT COULD DAMAGE COOPERATION IN
OTHER AREAS

REF: STATE 197809

Classified By: DCM David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

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


1. (C) The United States and China share many common
interests in the United Nations Security Council and with
regard to Burma, none of which would be served by conflict
over a Burma resolution in the UNSC, MFA Director General for
International Organizations Wu Hailong told the DCM. Wu
urged the United States to drop the resolution or seek
another way forward. China will oppose a UNSC Resolution on
Burma because Burma's political situation is showing
progress, the country's problems involve internal affairs and
are outside the UNSC's area of responsibility. The United
States has tabled a resolution on Burma because we seek real
progress and want to support Undersecretary Gambari's efforts
under the Secretary General's Good Offices mission, the DCM
said. Problems such as drugs, unrest, human trafficking and
infectious disease caused by Burma's government threaten
stability in the region. China should back the Burma
resolution, he emphasized. End Summary.

Interference in Internal Affairs of Burma
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2. (C) MFA Director General for International Organizations
Wu Hailong called in the DCM December 19 to reiterate China's
opposition to a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma, to
urge that the United States drop the resolution or seek
another way forward, and to suggest that conflict over a
Burma resolution could affect other areas of cooperation at
the UN and bilaterally. It is in the United States' and
China's interests to maintain stability and promote democracy
and national reconciliation in Burma, Wu said. China does
not support all of the policies of the Burmese government,
for example on democracy or treatment of the opposition, but
the problems in Burma are its internal affairs. The regime
has recently shown flexibility on participation by the NLD in
elections and NGO involvement in society, Wu claimed. After
consultations with the Burmese in Beijing, New York and in
Yangon, China believes these small signs of progress should
be encouraged. China remains interested in discussing Burma
bilaterally with the United States, he said.


3. (C) Wu said China appreciates the United States' efforts
to consult with it on the draft resolution, but cannot
support the draft. Problems of drugs and refugees do not
belong in the UNSC but in the UN's specialized agencies,
including the Human Rights Council. As there is no threat to
international peace and stability, there is no legal basis
for the UNSC to address Burma. Nine of the ASEAN states and
all Non-Aligned Movement states oppose the resolution, Wu
claimed. Wu said China is concerned that a UNSC resolution
will make things worse in Burma, not better.

Burma Would Split the Council
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4. (C) The United States and China have cooperated well in
many areas and there are many issues more important for us to
cooperate on than Burma, Wu said. China would prefer to
avoid conflict in the UNSC over Burma, because such conflict
would affect our cooperation in other areas. Burma affects
the security of Southwestern China and China's base
interests. If the United States pushes the resolution, China
must oppose it, Wu said. Such a split would be divisive for
the UNSC and even France and Japan would have difficulty
taking sides, Wu claimed.

DCM: China Should Support the Resolution
--------------


5. (C) United States officials at the highest levels,
including President Bush and Secretary Rice, have emphasized
to Chinese leaders the seriousness of the situation in Burma,
the DCM said. He summarized our position, drawing on reftel
points and emphasizing that Burma is a breeding ground for
drug trafficking, infectious diseases and insurgencies, all
of which have cross-border impact on the rest of Southeast
Asia, including China. U/SYG Gambari has asked the UNSC to
provide clear support the Secretary General's Good Offices
mission. A resolution is the best way to do so. The United

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States seeks China's support for the UNSC resolution.


6. (C) The United States disagrees with China's view that
Burma's political situation has shown progress, the DCM
emphasized. To the contrary, the situation is getting worse.
Regional problems caused by the regime's behavior include
drugs, refugees, human trafficking and the rapid spread of
infectious diseases. All are within the UNSC mandate and
appropriate to address through a UNSC resolution. The United
States is skeptical about the ability of other agencies to
adequately address Burma's situation, the DCM added, noting
the recent ineffectiveness of the Human Rights Council. For
all these reasons, China should support the resolution, he
concluded.

Randt