CHINA WORRIED ABOUT DRUGS FROM BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001076 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SENV SNAR PREL BM SUBJECT: CHINA WORRIED ABOUT DRUGS FROM BURMA REF: RANGOON 192 RANGOON 00001076 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: China's Political Section chief in Rangoon told emboffs that China does not consider trafficking in persons (TIP) between China and Burma to be a serious issue, but she called drug trafficking China's "number one headache," and indicated that illegal logging complicated bilateral relations with Burma. At least China will acknowledge privately what they resist publicly, that Burma poses risks to the region. END SUMMARY. HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOT A CHINESE PROBLEM ¶2. (C) On July 24, poloff and visiting DRL officer met with Deng Qinghua, Chief of the Chinese Embassy's Political Section in Rangoon, to discuss human trafficking issues. Ms Deng said that China does not consider trafficking in persons between China and Burma a serious issue. After the two countries met initially to discuss TIP issues in 2005, Burma pressed China to set up regular bilateral TIP meetings, but China has yet to do so. China doubts the need for a special TIP mechanism, and prefers to include TIP discussions on the agenda of regular meetings on border issues. ¶3. (C) Although Deng has served as a Chinese diplomat in Burma for a total of 10 years, she admitted she knew little about TIP issues and had to do an Internet search on Burmese-Chinese trafficking in advance of our meeting. She showed us an article she printed out about Burmese women who had married Chinese men in Henan, China's most populous province. However, she claimed the women went to China knowing they would be brides, so they were not trafficked. Deng claimed that China had repatriated 36 Burmese women in 2005 who had violated Chinese immigration laws. She did not know what happened to any of them after they returned to Burma. Deng asked us to share any relevant TIP information we might have with her. WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO CHINA ¶4. (C) According to Deng, two problems on China's border with Burma rank as much higher priorities for China: drug trafficking and illegal logging. She described drug trafficking from Burma as China's "number one headache." Deng said that 70-80 percent of China's drugs come from the Golden Triangle region. Although smuggling of "ice" (a smokable form of methamphetamine) has increased, she said, heroin remains the greatest problem. She said drugs are trafficked to every province in China and result in enormous losses in labor output and many social problems. China is particularly concerned that most of Burma's drug production occurs in ethnic regions not under the control of the central government. ¶5. (C) Deng cited illegal logging as a very complicated issue. She claimed that Chinese companies have been invited by the GOB to build roads and bridges in border areas, but the GOB has no money to pay for the work. Instead, the GOB offers payment in logs, despite the fact that ethnic groups, rather than the central government, control many of the logging sites. ¶6. (C) Chinese companies often obtain logging rights directly from ethnic groups without GOB approval, according to Deng. In addition, ethnic groups often directly hire Chinese companies and workers to log their areas without informing Chinese or Burmese authorities. Therefore, she concluded, RANGOON 00001076 002.2 OF 002 the Chinese government has not caused deforestation in Burma. She blamed the problem on Burma's porous borders and poor relations with ethnic groups, which allowed uncontrolled logging to occur outside of proper channels. ¶7. (C) Deng claimed that the Chinese government has warned its provincial and local government authorities to pay more attention to logging issues and has told Chinese companies they must obtain permits from local Chinese authorities before importing logs from Burma. Some current problems relate to unfinished logging contracts, but Deng expressed optimism illegal logging could be solved through future dialogue. ¶8. (C) COMMENT: The Chinese acknowledge that drug trafficking and illegal logging, if not trafficking in persons, cause them problems, contradicting its public statements that Burma presents no threats to the region. Not only logging, but drug trafficking involve the ethnic minorities seeking funds to continue their struggle against Burmese repression. We should continue regular exchanges with the Chinese on regional issues to find areas where the Chinese might be willing to put more pressure on Burma. For instance, encourage the Chinese, in their own interest of improved border controls, to urge the Burmese to address the legitimate concerns of the ethnic minorities. END COMMENT. VILLAROSA