COLOMBIA: LOCAL READ OUT ON A/S SHANNON'S VISIT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004754

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016
TAGS: OTRA PREL ETRD ECON CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: LOCAL READ OUT ON A/S SHANNON'S VISIT TO
CHINA, JAPAN, AND SOUTH KOREA

REF: STATE 70035

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood;
Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Representatives from the Chinese, Japanese and
South Korean Embassies in Colombia said Assistant Secretary
Shannon's visit to Asia to discuss Latin America was a
success. All indicated their governments' willingness to
continue the dialogue and look forward to future meetings.
The Chinese emphasized a desire to cooperate with the United
States in the region and an interest in increased
participation in Latin America-focused international
organizations. They stressed the PRC has no interest in
internal politics, but noted they find Chavez both
unpredictable and "extreme." The Japanese noted a
willingness to become more involved in Colombia's peace
processes, especially if one were started with the FARC. The
Koreans want to increase their development assistance
worldwide, and said Colombia is a prime candidate for aid.
End Summary.


2. (C) In response to reftel action request, poloffs called
on counterparts from the Chinese and Japanese Embassies, both
of whom said Shannon's visits were a success and would lead
to increased U.S.-Asia cooperation in the region. In
addition, the Ambassador met with the recently-arrived Korean
Ambassador to Colombia, who discussed Korea's growing
interest in the region, in terms of both development and
trade.

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China
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3. (C) Chinese Poloff Lunying Chen said A/S Shannon's visit
was a success and the PRC looks forward to continued
cooperation with the U.S. in Latin America. Chen said the
visit received wide media attention in China because it was
the first time someone at the A/S level had visited China to
consult on Latin America. He also said the visit served to
dispel the notion that the U.S. and China were competitors in
the region and instead highlighted opportunities for
increased cooperation to improve economic stability, with
benefits for both U.S. and Chinese businesses. Chen said the
Chinese believe there are significant opportunities for joint
U.S-Chinese business investment in Latin America,
particularly in Brazil.


4. (C) According to Chen, the PRC's interest in Latin
America is based on practical concerns: the Chinese need the
region's raw materials, particularly oil, gas and minerals,
and see an opportunity for increased exports of finished
products. He stressed that the PRC has no interest in the
internal politics of any country in the region, but noted
that, while maintaining good relations with Chavez, the
Chinese find him unpredictable and "extreme." (He also said
China would be willing to be a "bridge" between the U.S. and
Venezuela, given its relationship with both countries.)
Despite China's interest in remaining neutral on political
issues, the PRC is interested in increasing its participation
in two regional organizations, the Organization of American
States (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IBD).
China is an observer to the OAS, but wants to play a more
active role. It is not a member of the IBD and Chen said its
application had not yet been "accepted." He underscored that
U.S. support for Chinese participation in these international
organizations is critical.

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Japan
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5. (C) Japanese Political Counselor Hiroyuki Makiuchi
termed A/S Shannon's meeting with the GOJ "one of the best
bilateral meetings" ever between the U.S. and Japan and said
the GOJ looked forward to continued dialogue. Makiuchi

focused the conversation on Colombia and the possibilities
for bilateral cooperation. The GOJ has not actively
supported the GOC's peace process with the United Self
Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC),but would consider funding
and more active participation if the GOC began a peace
process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC). In a follow up meeting, Japanese Emboff said the
GOJ's foreign policy goals include fostering peace processes,
but that they had a hard time with the AUC process because of
its alleged links with the GOC. To the GOJ, it didn't seem
like other peace processes, in which rebel groups reconcile
with the government ("like Cambodia," said Japanese Emboff.)
Despite reservations about the AUC process, the Japanese
International Cooperation Agency has already had several
meetings with the USAID Mission in Bogota to discuss
cooperation on assistance to demobilized paramilitaries,
victims of land mines, and reparations for victims of the
internal conflict.


6. (C) From an economic perspective, Makiuchi noted Japanese
investment in Colombia had been on the decline - and that
Japanese business in Colombia use only local staff - since
the murder of a Japanese national held hostage by the FARC in

2003. The death of the businessman, after more than two
years in captivity, turned most Japanese business off
Colombia. While the Japanese Embassy works to counteract
this, Colombia remains a hard sell because of security
issues. They noted, however, most Japanese businesses in
Colombia also have offices in Venezuela and that Colombian
businessmen get higher marks for competence and efficiency
than their Venezuelan counterparts. Makiuchi said the GOJ is
concerned about Venezuela's "unpredictability," especially as
several Japanese businesses anticipate renegotiating
contracts with Venezuelan firms in the next three to four
years. In general, Emboff said the Japanese look to the U.S.
for guidance on political issues in the region, particularly
on the leftward move of several governments in the region.

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South Korea
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7. (C) Ambassador Guido Song, the new Korean Ambassador to
Colombia and an academic specializing in Latin America, was
not able to comment in detail about recent meetings between
the ROK and A/S Shannon. He noted the meetings were
productive and that ROK is interested in expanding
cooperation with the U.S. in the region.


8. (C) ROK Ambassador Song said Korea intends to increase
its overseas development assistance from less than a percent
to more than 2 percent, focusing on developing countries.
Ambassador Song said one criterion in determining which
countries would get Korean aid was whether they helped Korea
during the war. In this regard, Ethiopia, the Philippines,
Colombia and Turkey are prime candidates for aid because they
sent troops in support of South Korea and are in need of
development assistance. He noted, too, that Colombia's
improved security situation increased the likelihood that
both the ROK and Korean business would invest in Colombia in
the future.
WOOD