BURMA NEEDS A GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESENTS ITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000119

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EAP FOR DAS CHRISTENSEN AND DAS JOHN
EAP/MLS FOR RAPSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM JP
SUBJECT: BURMA NEEDS A GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESENTS ITS
PEOPLE, CHINESE MFA OFFICIAL TELLS VISITING EAP DAS
CHRISTENSEN


Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Burma needs a government that represents the Burmese
people and that provides more freedom to its citizens, MFA
Asian Affairs Department Director General Hu Zhengyue told
visiting EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas Christensen on
December 21. Hu said that China has been "working on" Burma
by urging the regime to begin ethnic and political
reconciliation, encouraging UN U/SYG Gambari to visit the
country, and urging the Burmese regime to become a country
that ASEAN could accept as a responsible member. Hu claimed
that China had achieved "significant progress" in replacing
opium as a key agricultural product in certain areas of
Burma. DAS Christensen stressed that Burma,s domestic
problems remain a serious threat to regional stability and
that the regime continues to eschew reform. Hu asserted that
the United States and China share a common goal in a stable
Burma and should coordinate our Burma policy. End Summary.


2. (C) Pointing out that he did not have the latest
information regarding timing as a result of his participation
in the Six-Party Talks, visiting EAP DAS Christensen told MFA
Asian Affairs Department Director General Hu Zhengyue during
a December 21 meeting at the MFA that the United States would
pursue a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma in the near
future. Noting that he realized China did not agree with
this approach, DAS Christensen asked whether Beijing had
additional suggestions as to how the United States and China
might coordinate our activities to make concrete progress on
improving the political situation in Burma. We should work
together to urge the Burmese regime to seek reconciliation
with the opposition parties and to release Aung San Suu Kyi,
he said.


3. (C) In response to DAS Christensen's comment that the
United States took notice of Chinese pressure on Burma toward
achieving reconciliation with the opposition, Hu acknowledged
that China had been "working on" Burma and described several
Chinese initiatives. Hu said that China had pushed Burma on
ethnic and political reconciliation and encouraged UN U/SYG
Gambari to visit Burma to engage on this issue. According to
Hu, China has supported and encouraged ASEAN to pressure
Burma to engage in reconciliation and in turn has urged the
Burmese regime to become a country that ASEAN could accept as
a responsible member nation. Beijing invites Burmese leaders
to visit China often so that they can observe the tangible
results of Chinese economic reforms, he said. Referring to
past U.S.-Chinese efforts to coordinate our Burma policy, Hu
said that the United States and China share a common goal in
a stable Burma.

Opium for Sugar
--------------


4. (C) According to Hu, China has achieved "significant
progress" in certain regions of Burma in replacing opium as a
key agricultural product. He explained that Chinese local
authorities near the Burmese border, using funds from
Beijing, have worked with their counterparts in northern
Burmese states to implement a program to replace opium with
other crops, such as sugar. China provides the market for
these alternative crops, he said. Hu promised to share with
us a report that charted China,s progress in this initiative.

Hu on the Problems with Burma
--------------


5. (C) Referring to Burma as "not a normal country," Hu said
Burma has always been ruled by military leaders. Burma is a
Buddhist country, and therefore, he posited, its population
is passive. Noting the country's long border with China, Hu
said Burma has been a major source of drugs and lacks a
leadership capable of controlling the entire country. He
referred to Burma as a major problem for ASEAN in its efforts
to improve relations with other countries, particularly the
European Union and the United States. Eighteen years after
cracking down on democratic parties, the regime has since
made no progress in its treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to Hu, one of the biggest problems is the country's
"natural economy." He said citizens could rely on nature to
provide fruit and other products for sustenance without
having to rely on imports from other countries.

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6. (C) Hu told DAS Christensen that Burma's neighbors,
including India and China, worry about instability in Burma
and the exodus of Burmese refugees. Hu said that Burma needs
a government that represents the Burmese people and that
provides more freedom to its citizens. However, this needs
to be achieved in a stable manner, and not through
revolution, he said. DAS Christensen stressed that Burma
remains a serious threat to stability in the region and that
the regime continues to eschew reform. Hu stated that China
has "lots of contacts" with Burma and will continue to
encourage gradual change.
SEDNEY