CHINA AND SINGAPORE SUPPORT AN "INCLUSIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006935

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP/PAUL WICKBERG, EAP/MLS/AARON COPE, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2027
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH BM SN
SUBJECT: CHINA AND SINGAPORE SUPPORT AN "INCLUSIVE
PROCESS"; ASEM DIALOGUE REVEALS COMMON GROUND ON BURMA

REF: BEIJING 6895

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson, Reasons 1.4
(b/d).


1. (C) Summary: Singapore and China expressed support for a
more inclusive national reconciliation process in Burma
during the October 26 visit of Singapore FM George Yeo to
China, though neither Yeo nor Chinese FM Yang Jiechi
articulated the elements of that process, according to MFA
Asia Department Burma Division Deputy Director Liang Jianjun
and a Singapore Embassy contact. Both governments will
continue to support UN Special Envoy Gambari's "good offices"
mission to Burma. Separately, the ASEM Senior Officials'
Meeting (SOM) discussion on Burma reportedly revealed common
ground rather than division between the EU and ASEAN. End
summary.


2. (C) MFA Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam Division Deputy
Director Liang Jianjun and an Embassy of Singapore contact
November 1 separately discussed with poloff the October 26
visit to China of Singapore FM George Yeo. As part of his
visit to India, Japan and China, FM Yeo met with Chinese FM
Yang Jiechi to secure support for ASEAN efforts on Burma.
Both Deputy Director Liang and our Singapore Embassy contact
confirmed that beyond seeking out China's views on the
situation in Burma, FM Yeo made no specific requests to China.

Avoid another Iraq
--------------


3. (C) Deputy Director Liang said FM Yeo, expressing concerns
about Burma both "as a neighbor and as chair of ASEAN,"
described Burma as "a very difficult country" with religious
and ethnic problems that could only be resolved through a
national reconciliation process. Liang said FM Yeo stated
that the people of Myanmar do not want to become "another
Iraq" and that the military must be included in any national
reconciliation process.


4. (C) FM Yeo observed that Singapore originally did not want
to accept Burma into ASEAN, but agreed only under pressure
from other members. After the recent turmoil, "some members"
want to expel Burma from ASEAN, but in this instance,
Singapore believes that Burma is "part of the ASEAN family"
and "has to face the reality" of the situation within the
context of ASEAN.


5. (C) According to Liang, both sides affirmed support for
the UN Special Envoy Gambari's "good offices" mission in
Burma and agreed that sanctions are not helpful. FM Yeo
observed that Burma is intent on cooperating with the UN
rather than ASEAN, highlighting Gambari's success in gaining
the confidence of both the Burmese military leadership and
Aung San Suu Kyi, while previous ASEAN envoys have made
little progress with the regime.

National reconciliation important, but undefined
-------------- ---


6. (C) Both sides reportedly affirmed the need for a more
inclusive national reconciliation process, though the
elements of that process were not specified. When asked,
Liang commented that the process was "very complicated" and
included both the regime's "imperfect" seven-step "roadmap"
to democracy and additional initiatives with ethnic groups.
Our Singapore Embassy contact admitted uncertainty over
exactly what was meant by "a more inclusive national
reconciliation process." (Note: Asked about MFA
International Organizations Department UN Division Deputy
Director Sun Xiaobo's statements of October 30 that China
hopes Burma can "speed up the democratic process" (reftel),
Liang stated that China hopes Burma can "speed up the
national reconciliation process" rather than the "democratic"
process.)

Upcoming Summits and Burma
--------------


7. (C) FM Yeo told the Chinese that Burma may be discussed at
the East Asia Summit November 21, or at least ASEAN will meet
to exchange views on the way forward. Liang said FM Yeo
confirmed that newly-appointed Burmese Prime Minister Thein
Sein will attend the ASEAN summit and that ASEAN should seek
channels to provide humanitarian assistance to Burma. Liang
said the Chinese encouraged ASEAN to play "a more positive

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and constructive role" in resolving the Burma issue. Liang
commented that currently ASEAN can only agree that sanctions
are inappropriate but that the group has been unable to
formulate positive measures to address the situation.
According to Liang, speculative discussions of troika
dialogues, core groups and similar mechanisms highlight the
lack of unity in ASEAN.

ASEM SOM produces EU-ASEAN consensus on Burma
--------------


8. (C) EU China Mission Counselor for Political Affairs
Alexander McLachlan (strictly protect) November 1 told us
ASEM participant representatives discussed Burma (also
present) at the October 29-30 ASEM Senior Officials Meeting
(SOM) in Guilin, China. Building on the October 2 UN Human
Rights Council resolution on Burma, EU officials plan to
pursue measures in the Third Committee of UNGA to guarantee
unfettered access for the Red Cross (ICRC) in Burma, a full
cessation of hostilities with anti-government ethnic groups
and an inclusive national reconciliation process. McLachlan
commented that unlike previous SOMs, where the EU and ASEAN
would divide into opposing camps over Burma, Singapore, as
ASEAN chair, supported the direction of the EU measures,
except for the imposition of sanctions. For its part, China,
as chair of the meeting, did not comment on Burma, but
neither did it move to limit discussion.


9. (C) McLachlan echoed the above assessment that beyond
opposing sanctions, ASEAN has no common vision for movement
on Burma. McLachlan, too, noted ASEAN's lack of specifics
for the "inclusive national reconciliation process," but
commented that at least this reveals ASEAN does not consider
the regime's seven-step "roadmap" the sole way forward.
Randt