PRC RAISES QUESTIONS IN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 004362 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV IN CH SUBJECT: PRC RAISES QUESTIONS IN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON THE U.S.-INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION INITIATIVE REF: STATE 34761 Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) China welcomes the development of U.S.-India relations, believing that better relations between big powers will contribute to world stability, stated MFA Director for India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan Huang Xilian. In response to reftel points delivered March 8, he reiterated China's position that the international community is making efforts to enhance the authoritativeness and effectiveness of the international nonproliferation mechanism. The PRC hopes that cooperation among relevant countries in the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy will aid these efforts and that it should be in compliance with the provisions of the international nonproliferation mechanism and the international obligations undertaken by various countries. Huang wanted to know whether or not India would have the freedom to define its nuclear programs as either civilian or military and to what extent the United States would pressure India to declare its nuclear facilities as civilian. ¶2. (C) Huang said that he had received a briefing from his Indian counterparts regarding the President's March visit to India. The Indian representatives said that India's strategic relationship with United States is not aimed at China and that both India and the United States want to improve their relations with China. Overall Beijing views the current state of relations between the three countries as positive, according to Huang. ¶3. (C) Huang requested a formal readout of the President's trip to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and said that the PRC Embassy in Washington is likely to make a similar request. The MFA is interested in what the United States considers to be the most significant aspect of the President's trip and what role economic cooperation between the United States and India plays in the overall bilateral relationship. RANDT