BEIJING WILL DECIDE POSITION ON MINUSTAH MANDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000938

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/17
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO HA CH TW
SUBJECT: BEIJING WILL DECIDE POSITION ON MINUSTAH MANDATE
AFTER PRESIDENT HU RETURNS FROM AFRICA

REF: STATE 15835

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

Summary
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1. (C) Beijing will decide its position on the length of
mandate extension for the United Nations Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) after President Hu returns from
Africa on February 12, MFA International Organizations Deputy
Director General Chen Xu said. Chen was responding to a
demarche by Polmincouns urging that China support a one-year,
rather than just a six-month, MINUSTAH mandate renewal. Chen
said U.S. points about broad regional and international
support for one-year renewal are "well taken." End Summary.


2. (C) With MFA International Organizations Director General
Wu Hailong unavailable because of travel outside Beijing,
Polmincouns delivered to DDG Chen Xu on February 8 reftel
demarche urging that China support a one-year, rather than
just a six-month, MINUSTAH mandate renewal. Chen thanked us
for the information in the demarche regarding the February 1
Haiti Contact Group meeting and said that U.S. points about
broad regional and international support for one-year renewal
are "well taken." China has expressed a preference for a
six-month extension because Beijing believes elections mean
the situation on the ground in Haiti is improving. Chen also
noted that China received an "unpleasant surprise" from Haiti
last September (when Haiti spoke in favor of Taiwan's UN
membership at UNGA.) But Chen emphasized that diplomatic
relations are not a prerequisite for Chinese support, noting
that MINUSTAH was first approved under China's presidency of
the UNSC.

Six Months Easy but One Year Needs Top-level Approval
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3. (C) Chen said MFA can easily agree to a six-month
extension of the mandate now, with the possibility of further
extensions later based on recommendations by the UNSYG, the
Haiti Contact Group or expert reports. But in light of the
apparent regional consensus on the need for a one-year
extension, MFA plans to seek further guidance from "the
highest levels" after President Hu returns from Africa on
February 12. In addition to the United States, Brazil, Peru,
Canada and others in the region have recently urged China to
agree to a one-year extension. Chen cautioned, however, that
the MFA does not know what the response from the highest
levels in Beijing will be.


4. (C) Polmincouns emphasized that the security situation in
Haiti, the needs of the peacekeeping force and efficiency for
the UN all favor a one-year renewal. He urged China to
support the regional consensus and a one-year mandate for
MINUSTAH.
RANDT