Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RANGOON1076
2006-07-31 10:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
CHINA WORRIED ABOUT DRUGS FROM BURMA
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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)
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
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