AFM HE YAFEI ON IRAN: CHINA SUPPORTS NEW UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006342

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2032
TAGS: PREL PARM PTER MNUC IR CH
SUBJECT: AFM HE YAFEI ON IRAN: CHINA SUPPORTS NEW UNSC
RESOLUTION "AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME"

REF: EAP-EMBASSY EMAIL OF 9/26/07

Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: China supports a new UN Security
Council resolution on Iran when appropriate, but a new
resolution should not hurt either the Iranian people
or the legitimate economic and energy interests of
China or other countries, Assistant Foreign Minister
(AFM) He Yafei told the Ambassador September 27. AFM
He expressed appreciation for U.S. support for
diplomatic efforts to resolve the problem and said
that the two tracks of UNSC action and IAEA
negotiations should reinforce one another, not cancel
each other out. He suggested that the P5-plus-1
encourage the EU and Iran to resume diplomatic
negotiations and urged the United States to begin
direct talks with Iran over the nuclear issue. The
Ambassador per ref e-mail urged China to support a
third UNSC resolution, forego new energy deals with
Iran and prohibit Chinese weapons and dual-use
technology sales to Iran. End summary.


2. (C) After discussing Burma with Assistant Foreign
Minister He Yafei September 27 (septel),the
Ambassador drew upon ref e-mail points to urge China
to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by
supporting a third UN Security Council Resolution,
foregoing new energy deals and prohibiting Chinese
companies from selling weapons and dual-use technology
to Iran. He noted that this issue was among President
Bush's top concerns in discussion with President Hu
Jintao in Sydney in early September and that failure
to adopt promptly a third UN Security Council
resolution will be taken by Iran as a failure of
international resolve on this issue.


3. (C) AFM He responded that Iran, like Burma, is a
difficult issue. China is unhappy that Iran has not
complied with the UNSC resolutions; Iran should do so.
AFM He noted that President Hu made China's position
clear during his meeting with President Bush in Sydney
and that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi further
expounded on that position and described Chinese
actions in the region during meetings in both
Australia and the United States.

Preference for a Diplomatic Solution
--------------


4. (C) AFM He noted China's appreciation that the
United States had reiterated its preference for a
diplomatic solution to the problem and that China,
like the United States, supports a two-track strategy.
AFM He stated that China continues to believe that the
United States and China have no strategic differences
over the Iran nuclear issue. AFM He noted, however,
that actions by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the
one hand and in the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) and EU negotiating tracks on the other should
reinforce each other, not cancel each other out.

Possibility of a New UNSC Resolution
--------------


5. (C) AFM He stated that when appropriate, China
would support a new UNSC resolution to pressure Iran
and urge its cooperation. In this regard, China has
been taking a constructive approach, sending a
representative to the recent P5-plus-1 Political
Directors meeting to discuss a draft text of a UNSC
resolution. He said that the content of a new draft
resolution should not negatively affect the Iranian
people nor harm legitimate economic or energy
interests of China or other nations. He noted that
Secretary Rice and Under Secretary Burns said they

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would take into account the Chinese position on these
matters. China hoped the United States would do so
seriously.

Timing of the Resolution
--------------


6. (C) As for timing of a new resolution, AFM He said
that the Chinese know that the United States has
ideas, and he urged further consultation and
cooperation. AFM He asked the United States to
consider relevant factors, such as ongoing dialogue
between the IAEA and Iran on "outstanding issues" and
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's views on the
matter. He urged that consideration of timing take

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into account possible damage to ongoing IAEA efforts.
AFM He said he hopes for progress at the September 28
Ministers' meeting and hopes the meeting can provide
guidance on how to move forward.

Suggestions: Further Discussion for both U.S. and EU
-------------- --------------


7. (C) AFM He said China had two suggestions. First,
the P5-plus-1 should encourage EU Foreign Policy Chief
Javier Solana and Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator Ali
Larijani to resume dialogue, as that channel is an
important part of diplomatic efforts. Second, the
United States should hold direct talks with Iran on
the nuclear issue. Direct U.S.-Iran talks, he said,
could be the most effective approach.


8. (C) The Ambassador reminded AFM He that both China
and the United States, as well as others, agreed to
the dual-track efforts. The two tracks should
mutually reinforce one another, he acknowledged, but
the United States fears that the UNSC track is losing
credibility as Iran continues to ignore UNSC
resolutions with impunity. The Ambassador also stated
that while the United States appreciates the efforts
of the IAEA, those efforts are insufficient by
themselves, as they only address the past and not the
present or the future. AFM He responded that both the
past and future are important and that understanding
the past could help resolve the future.
Randt