PRC-ZIMBABWE: CHINA UNLIKELY TO MAKE STATEMENT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001838 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM ZI CH SUBJECT: PRC-ZIMBABWE: CHINA UNLIKELY TO MAKE STATEMENT ON ZIMBABWE REPRESSION REF: STATE 34009 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shields. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d). (C) China believes the recent arrests of political opposition members in Zimbabwe are Zimbabwe's "internal affairs" and that other countries should not interfere, MFA International Organizations Department UN Division Deputy Director Yao Shaojun told poloff in response to reftel demarche. Given that China opposes on principle interference in the internal affairs of other nations, Yao said Beijing is unlikely to make a public statement or support country-specific action critical of Zimbabwe in the Human Rights Council. China would strongly oppose raising Zimbabwe in the UN Security Council, he said, and it believes the majority of African nations also do not want UNSC action on Zimbabwe. Poloff urged that China take some action to condemn the brutal March 11 attacks. RANDT