PRC/HAITI: CHINESE FRUSTRATION WITH HAITIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 024811 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/CM, WHA, USOAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2026 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC HA CH SUBJECT: PRC/HAITI: CHINESE FRUSTRATION WITH HAITIAN SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN MAY AFFECT MINUSTAH VOTE REF: STATE 202035 Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Though the PRC agrees that MINUSTAH plays an important role in Haiti, Beijing is "very frustrated" with Haiti's active efforts to support Taiwan's membership in the UN, MFA International Organizations Department UN Affairs Division Director Yang Tao told poloff in response to reftel demarche. Noting that China had not only voted in favor of MINUSTAH but also contributed civilian police (CIVPOL),Yang emphasized that this had been a departure from the previous PRC policy of blocking UN operations in countries that had diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Beijing had changed its position for a number of reasons, including strong representations from the United States, France and Latin American countries as well as informal discussions in which Haitian authorities had agreed to avoid provocative actions with regard to Taiwan, Yang claimed. He said Beijing believes that Haiti's support for a UNGA resolution in favor of Taiwan becoming a member of the UN constituted a "completely unnecessary" violation of the informal agreement between Haiti and the PRC. Yang stressed that the PRC has not decided on what position it will take when MINUSTAH comes up for renewal and stressed that Beijing would like to be able to vote in favor of the resolution. The PRC vote will be determined by Haiti's actions between now and the vote, according to Yang. ¶2. (C) Yang said that PRC UN Permrep Wang Guangya has met with Haitian officials on a number of occasions to pass along PRC anger and to demand that Haiti "apologize" as well as promise to cease active support for Taiwan's membership in the UN. Yang characterized Haitian officials as "understanding that we are angry, but not understanding the depth of our anger or what the consequences might be." Complaining that Haitian officials appear to take international involvement in Haiti for granted, Yang said he has recommended to his superiors that Beijing withdraw its CIVPOL contingent in order to send a very clear signal to the Haitian Government of the depth of PRC anger. Yang commented that the final decision on the CIVPOL contingent would probably be made "above the Foreign Ministry." ¶3. (C) Drawing from reftel points, Poloff urged the PRC to support the MINUSTAH renewal on its own merits and without any linkage to Taiwan. Stressing appreciation for the positive role played by the PRC CIVPOL contingent, Poloff urged the PRC to show greater patience as well as flexibility and not to withdraw the contingent. SEDNEY