DAS CHRISTENSEN DISCUSSES BURMA WITH MFA ASIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000888

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017
TAGS: PREL CH BM AF
SUBJECT: DAS CHRISTENSEN DISCUSSES BURMA WITH MFA ASIAN
AFFAIRS DG HU ZHENGYUE


Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Dan Shields. Reasons 1.4 (
b/d).

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


1. (C) EAP DAS Thomas Christensen underscored the
need for continued international attention to Burma in
a meeting with MFA Asian Affairs Director General Hu
Zhengyue on February 6. The United States was
disappointed by China's veto of the Security Council
resolution on Burma. China should find ways to
promote reform in Burma. The United States is ready
to discuss these issues with China, he noted. DG Hu
said cooperation on Burma should be an important part
of closer coordination between the United States and
China on Asian affairs. China continues to urge
Burmese leaders to seek national reconciliation and
believes that ASEAN and the United Nations, but not
the Security Council, can play a constructive role on
Burma. DAS Christensen asked whether China pressed
Burmese General Thura Shwe Mann on reform last week
when he visited China. DG Hu said General Thura Shwe
Mann met with Premier Wen and Chinese military leaders
and Chinese officials urged the regime to respond to
international concerns, but also repeated China's
standard positions about not interfering in Burma's
internal affairs. DAS Christensen asked Hu about his
perceptions of the Burmese regime's relations with
Aung San Suu Kyi. DG Hu responded that the regime
does not see her as a threat. Even if she were in
power she would not be able to lead the country
effectively, given the complexity of the problems
Burma faces, DG Hu said. DAS Christensen said it is
the current Burmese regime, not Aung San Suu Kyi, that
has demonstrated a lack of capacity to handle the
complexities of the challenges that face Burma. End
Summary.


2. (C) EAP DAS Christensen expressed continuing
United States' concern about the situation in Burma
and underscored the need for continued international
attention to Burma during a February 6 meeting with
Asian Affairs DG Hu Zhengyue. The United States was
disappointed by China's decision to veto the
resolution on Burma in the United Nations. China
should find ways to promote reform in Burma. The
United States is ready to discuss these issues with
China, he noted. DG Hu said cooperation on Burma
should be an important part of closer coordination
between the United States and China on Asian affairs.

MFA Sees a Role for UN, but Not UNSC, on Burma
-------------- -


3. (C) DG Hu said China believes the United Nations
should continue to play a role on Burma, but not
through the Security Council. China has urged Burma
to take seriously international concerns about Burma's
national reconciliation and in response the Burmese
have told Chinese officials that they are willing to
continue to have a dialogue with U/SYG Gambari, Hu
said.


4. (C) DG Hu stated that Burma's neighbors, including
China, India and Thailand, have a common view that
political reconciliation between the regime and the
opposition parties and consolidation of the security
situation with respect to armed groups in minority
regions of Burma are significant issues. China and
India consult closely on Burma and see eye-to-eye on
the need to address Burma's problems through
engagement, not isolation. ASEAN countries recognize
that Burma's internal problems hinder ASEAN's
relations with the international community. ASEAN is
motivated to try to improve Burma's international
standing, DG Hu said.

Visit by General Thura Shwe Mann
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5. (C) DAS Christensen asked whether China pressed
Burmese General Thura Shwe Mann on reform last week
when he visited China. DG Hu said General Thura Shwe
Mann met with Premier Wen and Chinese military
leaders. General Thura Shwe Mann and a Burmese Vice
Foreign Minister discussed the regime's "roadmap" with
Chinese officials, while China explained the
international community's concern about Burma's
domestic situation, urging the Burmese to address
internal problems and to think of ways to improve
their relations with the international community.
Chinese leaders repeated standard positions about not
interfering in Burma's internal affairs. China
believes the best way to influence Burma is by talking
with its leaders. Beijing has invited various Burmese
leaders to visit China but few have come, perhaps
because they are busy addressing internal issues.
Beijing believes international pressure on Burma is
counterproductive, causing the regime to be less
willing to address national reconciliation and to take
a harder line toward calls for democratic reform, DG
Hu said.

Aung San Suu Kyi
--------------


6. (C) DAS Christensen asked about Hu's perceptions
of the Burmese regime's relations with Aung San Suu
Kyi and the prospects for reconciliation between the
regime and the democratic parties. DG Hu responded
that the regime does not see Aung San Suu Kyi as a
threat. Even if she were in power she would not be
able to lead the country effectively, given the
complexity of the problems Burma faces, Hu said. DAS
Christensen said Burma's problems are indeed complex,
but it is the current Burmese regime, not Aung San Suu
Kyi, that has demonstrated a lack of capacity to
handle the complexities of the challenges that face
Burma.

Economics, Drug Trafficking, Disease
--------------


7. (C) DAS Christensen rejected the idea that it will
be possible to get results in Burma without outside
pressure. Burma's problems have become regional
problems, DAS Christensen emphasized, noting the
spread of drugs and infectious diseases like AIDS. DG
Hu said that China is seeking to influence Burma by
sharing China's economic experiences with visiting
Burmese leaders and by encouraging Burmese minority
groups to adopt strategies that emphasize alternatives
to poppy cultivation. The UN participates in some of
these programs, Hu said, noting that China believes
similar drug crop replacement programs can be
effective in Afghanistan. Through engagement between
local groups in China and Burma, the Chinese central
government promotes replacement crops, such as sugar,
in part by providing markets in China for these
replacement crops, he said. China has donated grain
to Burma to prevent food shortages in areas seeking to
move out of the drug trade, he added. DAS Christensen
asked whether China places conditions on food aid or
checks to ensure that the recipient areas have stopped
growing poppies. DG Hu said there is no direct
conditionality to Chinese assistance. The food
products exported to China, however, are evidence that
replacement crops have been planted.


8. (U) DAS Christensen cleared this message.
RANDT