UAE MFA ON CHINA'S WEAK NONPROLIFERATION COOPERATION

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 001003 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP BMASILKO/WROEBUCK AND ISN/CPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: PARM PTER PREL PGOV KNNP IR CH AE SUBJECT: UAE MFA ON CHINA'S WEAK NONPROLIFERATION COOPERATION Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (S) During a September 4 meeting at which A/DCM and EconOff sought Emirati assistance with sensitive nonproliferation cases (interdictions),MFA Director for International Organizations Yacub al-Hosani expressed UAEG frustration with efforts to improve nonproliferation cooperation with China. Al-Hosani said the UAEG had suggested UAE-China discussions on nonproliferation cooperation and an exchange of information on each country's procedures. Although China had initially welcomed the idea, officials had subsequently postponed each attempt at a meeting during the past year. Al-Hosani said the UAEG had returned two shipments to China, only to be told the dual-use items involved were for civilian purposes. He added that the Chinese Ambassador had told the MFA not to "listen to the United States." ¶2. (S) Al-Hosani said the UAEG had considered informing the UN about China's behavior since China is the source of many sensitive items which the UAEG is then asked to intercept. He suggested that the interdictions under discussion with EmbOffs represented "only 10 percent" of the illicit trade, with "the other 90 percent" going through to Iran. Improving that record calls for more systematic coordination, he opined. QUINN