AMBASSADOR URGES IMPROVED PRC COOPERATION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006402 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2032 TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM MARR MNUC CH BM IR SU SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES IMPROVED PRC COOPERATION ON BURMA, IRAN, SUDAN, AND MIL-TO-MIL RELATIONS Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a September 28 meeting with Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui on bilateral issues (septel),the Ambassador urged improved Chinese cooperation on Burma, Iran and other international issues and pressed for General Jing Zhiyuan of the PLA Second Artillery to accept STRATCOM's invitation to the United States. VFM Zhang responded with familiar positions: China is urging Burmese Government restraint, and a third UN Security Council resolution on Iran needs to wait for the results of IAEA-Iran cooperation and to avoid harming the Iranian people or other countries' economic and trade interests. VFM Zhang promised to convey the Ambassador's message on the unanswered invitation to General Jing. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Meeting with Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui September 28 to discuss bilateral issues (septel),the Ambassador raised U.S. concerns about Chinese cooperation on international issues, such as Burma, Iran and Sudan, and on our mil-to-mil relations. Burma, Iran, Darfur -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for China's urging the Burmese regime to exercise restraint, but noted the situation remains very serious. On this issue and other serious issues such as Iran and Darfur, the Ambassador warned, U.S. frustration over China's grudging cooperation is growing. Especially with respect to Iran, some in the United States are beginning to doubt China's sincerity. China says it wants to assist or shares U.S. concerns, but when, for example, the United States pushes urgently for a new UN Security Council resolution on Iran, China argues that we should wait. The Iran issue, as President Bush made clear to President Hu in Sydney in early September, is very important to the United States. ¶4. (C) VFM Zhang responed that, according to the Burmese Government, UN Special Envoy Gambari is arriving in Burma at 4:30pm today (September 28). The Chinese Government pressed the Burmese Government to exercise restraint and to take effective measures to keep the situation from getting out of control. Increased tensions in Burma are in no one's interest, Zhang stressed. ¶5. (C) On Iran, VFM Zhang replied with the familiar refrain that China and the United States share the same strategic objectives on the Iran nuclear issue. The problems between our two sides are "technical." Regarding timing of a new UNSC resolution, the IAEA- Iran agreement needs "a few months" to verify the "outstanding issues." IAEA Director General ElBaradei says progress is being made; time is needed for the IAEA to issue its report. Then a new resolution, with teeth, can be considered. ¶6. (C) On the content of a new resolution, VFM Zhang continued, China's position is that the livelihoods of the Iranian people should not be affected. China is an active participant in talks on a third resolution. China hopes for progress in ongoing talks, but time is needed to discuss the economic and trade interests of relevant countries. China is very eager to see the problem resolved and understands the urgency that the United States feels, but all relevant factors need to be considered, including a new resolution's effect on IAEA-Iran cooperation. ¶7. (C) The Ambassador responded that the IAEA-Iran agreement only deals with the past. The direction of current Iranian nuclear issues needs to be addressed, and urgently. UN Security Council credibility is being tested, since Iran has already ignored two deadlines, and yet the UN Security Council has not proceeded with a new resolution, thereby suggesting the international community lacks resolve. This is the wrong signal to send to Iran. ¶8. (C) VFM Zhang said he understands the U.S. desire for quick movement on a third resolution with teeth, but more discussion is needed. This will take time. BEIJING 00006402 002 OF 002 China has strictly implemented the first two resolutions and would likewise plan to strictly implement a third; therefore, China takes seriously the content of a new resolution. Mil-to-Mil Relations -------------- ¶9. (C) The Ambassador noted that Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mullen's recent successful visit demonstrated China's efforts to increase transparency. However, for many months now, China has said Second Artillery Chief General Jing Zhiyuan has been unable to find time to accept the longstanding U.S. invitation to visit the United States. His visit would show China is interested in increasing transparency in this critical area as well. ¶10. (C) VFM Zhang agreed on the importance of improving mil-to-mil relations and said he will convey the Ambassador's message to General Jing. Randt