CHINA INFORMED OF RELEASE TO ALBANIA OF FIVE

S E C R E T BEIJING 008334 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/WCI SAM WITTEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2021 TAGS: PREF PTER CH AL SUBJECT: CHINA INFORMED OF RELEASE TO ALBANIA OF FIVE GUANTANAMO UIGHURS Classified By: Classified by Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shield s. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (S) As coordinated with Washington Agencies, Embassy Beijing informed the Chinese MFA on the morning of May 6 Beijing time, after the State Department had notified the Chinese Embassy in Washington, of the release to Albania of five Uighurs previously held at Guantanamo Bay and determined to no longer be enemy combatants. MFA International Organizations Deputy Director General Chen Xu expressed surprise and disappointment that despite the clear concerns the Chinese Government had registered with the U.S. Government at senior levels regarding this matter, the USG had still turned the five Uighurs over to a third government rather than returning them to China. Chen expressed the hope with regard to the 17 Uighurs who remain in custody at Guantanamo Bay that the USG would take Chinese concerns into consideration and send the individuals back to China. Polmincouns said the USG will continue to carefully consider Chinese views and U.S. obligations under international law. SEDNEY