CHINA OPPOSES LIBERIA RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 024646 SIPDIS SIPDIS USUN FOR DAVID TESSLER DEPARTMENT FOR EB SUE SAARNIO AND IO JOHN SANDAGE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC LI TW CH SUBJECT: CHINA OPPOSES LIBERIA RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF TAIWAN PARTICIPATION IN KIMBERLEY PROCESS REF: A. 12-18 NORRIS-SEDNEY E-MAIL ¶B. STATE 200387 Classified By: DCM David Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) China's recent concerns about UNSC Resolution 1521 (2003) involving the renewal of Liberia sanctions are tied directly to Taiwan's participation in the Kimberley Process, Director General for International Organizations Wu Hailong told the DCM December 19. Based on refs, DCM took advantage of a meeting with Wu on a separate topic to inquire about the reason for China's concern about the renewal of sanctions under UNSCR 1521, which aims to prevent Liberia's rebel groups from benefiting from the sale of timber and diamonds. ¶2. (C) China is concerned because the European Union will chair the Kimberley Process next year and wants Taiwan to join as a "full participant" following the model Taiwan uses to participate in the World Trade Organization, Wu said. This would be a change from past practice where Taiwan participated as an observer through the World Diamond Council, which was part of the Kimberley Process. ¶3. (C) MFA IO Deputy Director Song, who regularly participates in the Kimberley Process, claimed that the EU's proposal to use the WTO nomenclature was a key PRC concern. However, DG Wu challenged him on that and said China's main concern is whether Taiwan is a full participant or not. In conclusion, W sated that China cannot accept Taiwan as a full participant. Randt