Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA931
2007-12-10 12:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
CHINESE IN ERITREA SEEK ACTIVE ROLE
how-toVZCZCXRO7842 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0931 3441233 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 101233Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9310 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0034 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1539 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1717 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0675 RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000931
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID EAGR KOLY ER CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE IN ERITREA SEEK ACTIVE ROLE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000931
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID EAGR KOLY ER CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE IN ERITREA SEEK ACTIVE ROLE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea, Shu
Zhan, says he and his mission seek to play a more active role
in Eritrea than had the Chinese Embassy in the past.
Regarding President Isaias' experience in China during the
throes of the Cultural Revolution, Shu said that "perhaps he
learned the wrong lessons." End Summary.
2. (C) Chinese Youth Volunteers in Eritrea
--------------
During a December 6 discussion with the Ambassador, Shu said
China had recently sent ten Youth Volunteers and three
professional technicians to assist with Eritrea's
development. Five volunteers will work on agricultural
projects in Tesseney (near the Sudanese border),two would be
stationed in Mendeferra, south of Asmara, and three would be
in Asmara coaching women's soccer, table tennis, and "ground
tennis." He thought Eritrea would participate in the Beijing
Olympics in bicycling and middle distance running. The three
professional experts would be attached to the Ministry of
Agriculture in Asmara, Shu added.
3. (C) Young Isaias Afwerki in China
--------------
When the Ambassador raised President Isaias' experience as an
ELF Political Commissar trainee in China in 1966-67, Shu
commented that he had discussed it with Isaias. He reported
that Isaias said he heartily disliked Chairman Mao's cult of
personality. Shu, who as a college graduate was forced to
work as an agricultural laborer for five years to overcome
his bourgeois background, offered that perhaps Isaias "had
learned the wrong lessons" from his visit to China during the
darkest days of the Cultural Revolution, an apparent
reference to Isaias' Maoist economic tendencies.
4. (C) A More Active Chinese Embassy
--------------
Ambassador Shu Zhan, who taught (or was resident) for a
semester at George Mason University, said he wanted the
Chinese Embassy to be much more active than it had been in
the past. He explained that he was the first Chinese
Ambassador to Eritrea who was not in the "59 Club" (i.e., not
on a sunset tour facing mandatory retirement). He said he is
moderately ambitious, adding that his mentor was "number six"
in the overall Chinese political hierarchy, and "would reach
number one in five to ten years." Shu said his commercial
attache, who lives next door to the American EMR, was
currently "in the south" to assess prospects of proposed
commercial ventures.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID EAGR KOLY ER CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE IN ERITREA SEEK ACTIVE ROLE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea, Shu
Zhan, says he and his mission seek to play a more active role
in Eritrea than had the Chinese Embassy in the past.
Regarding President Isaias' experience in China during the
throes of the Cultural Revolution, Shu said that "perhaps he
learned the wrong lessons." End Summary.
2. (C) Chinese Youth Volunteers in Eritrea
--------------
During a December 6 discussion with the Ambassador, Shu said
China had recently sent ten Youth Volunteers and three
professional technicians to assist with Eritrea's
development. Five volunteers will work on agricultural
projects in Tesseney (near the Sudanese border),two would be
stationed in Mendeferra, south of Asmara, and three would be
in Asmara coaching women's soccer, table tennis, and "ground
tennis." He thought Eritrea would participate in the Beijing
Olympics in bicycling and middle distance running. The three
professional experts would be attached to the Ministry of
Agriculture in Asmara, Shu added.
3. (C) Young Isaias Afwerki in China
--------------
When the Ambassador raised President Isaias' experience as an
ELF Political Commissar trainee in China in 1966-67, Shu
commented that he had discussed it with Isaias. He reported
that Isaias said he heartily disliked Chairman Mao's cult of
personality. Shu, who as a college graduate was forced to
work as an agricultural laborer for five years to overcome
his bourgeois background, offered that perhaps Isaias "had
learned the wrong lessons" from his visit to China during the
darkest days of the Cultural Revolution, an apparent
reference to Isaias' Maoist economic tendencies.
4. (C) A More Active Chinese Embassy
--------------
Ambassador Shu Zhan, who taught (or was resident) for a
semester at George Mason University, said he wanted the
Chinese Embassy to be much more active than it had been in
the past. He explained that he was the first Chinese
Ambassador to Eritrea who was not in the "59 Club" (i.e., not
on a sunset tour facing mandatory retirement). He said he is
moderately ambitious, adding that his mentor was "number six"
in the overall Chinese political hierarchy, and "would reach
number one in five to ten years." Shu said his commercial
attache, who lives next door to the American EMR, was
currently "in the south" to assess prospects of proposed
commercial ventures.
MCMULLEN