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