TIBET: JOURNALISTS CITE GOVERNMENT "RESTRAINT,"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001045 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2033 TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM PREL CH SUBJECT: TIBET: JOURNALISTS CITE GOVERNMENT "RESTRAINT," LINK PRC RESPONSE TO TAIWAN AND DOMESTIC STABILITY CONCERNS REF: A. BEIJING 1022 ¶B. BEIJING 998 ¶C. BEIJING 982 ¶D. BEIJING 999 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: China's leadership has ordered security forces to show "restraint" and not discharge their weapons in responding to Tibet-related unrest, according to two editors at official Chinese newspapers. One source said that despite these orders, "isolated shooting incidents" may have occurred but claimed the number of Tibetan casualties has been "very few." More than 200 Tibetans have been arrested in Lhasa, however. The leadership has two primary concerns in responding to the protests: avoiding any negative impact on the March 22 Taiwan elections and preserving domestic stability. Both sources were highly critical of the Government's tight control of information but said there was "no way" foreign press and diplomats would be allowed into Tibetan areas. The unrest is unlikely to spread beyond Tibetan regions. One source warned of a "backlash" if countries push for an Olympics boycott, while the other said the Olympics simply are not the leadership's primary concern, asserting that the Party's "core interests" are social stability, Taiwan and continued Communist Party rule. End Summary. PRC Shows "Restraint"; Number of Deaths Low, Arrests High -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) According to two editors at separate official PRC newspapers, China's leadership has ordered security forces to show "restraint" and not discharge their weapons in responding to Tibet-related unrest. Chang Shaoyang (strictly protect),senior editor at the Ministry of Justice-affiliated Legal Daily, told POLOFF March 19 that President Hu Jintao, in ordering restraint, had specifically not authorized security forces to discharge their weapons. Wang Wen (strictly protect),editor at the People's Daily-affiliated Global Times, said on March 20 that Hu Jintao's order had resulted in "virtually no loss of life" among Tibetan demonstrators. When pressed by PolOff, who cited multiple reports indicating that Chinese security forces had in fact fired their weapons, Wang conceded that in certain "isolated and chaotic" instances, some security forces "likely" fired their weapons. But the leadership has specifically ordered security forces not to do so, Wang claimed, and as a result, the number of Tibetan casualties has been "extremely low," not exceeding more than "one or two people." ¶3. (C) Although the number of casualties has been low, "more than 200" Tibetans have been arrested by security forces in Lhasa, Wang said, indicating this information had come from a Global Times reporter in Lhasa. That reporter told Wang the situation there is "largely under control" and "mostly quiet." Both Wang and Chang claimed to have "heard nothing" about unrest in Tibetan areas outside of the TAR. (Note: See para 6 for their complaints about the strict controls on information about the unrest.) Concerned with Taiwan, Domestic Instability -------------- ¶4. (C) The leadership has two primary concerns in responding to the unrest: avoiding any impact on the March 22 Taiwan elections and preserving domestic stability, the two editors said. Wang Wen said concern about reactions in Taiwan is the primary motivation behind China's restraint. The Chinese leadership is concerned that if China were to "brutally" crack down on protesting Tibetans, it could have an effect on public opinion in Taiwan and thus the March 22 presidential election. China's leadership believes that, in Taiwan, fear of China translates into support for the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. A crackdown resulting in large-scale loss of life, Wang Wen said, could "hand the election to (the DPP's) Frank Hsieh." China still hopes for a victory by the KMT's Ma Ying-jeou and wants to avoid doing anything to jeopardize that. ¶5. (C) According to the Legal Daily's Chang Shaoyang, the leadership's primary concern is domestic stability. Even though it is "highly unlikely" that the unrest will spread beyond Tibetan or other minority areas, Chang nevertheless said the leadership remains "insecure" and "has no confidence" in the stability of its rule, which is why it has responded so swiftly to these protests. Chang found it "improbable" that Han Chinese might try to "take advantage" BEIJING 00001045 002 OF 002 of the crrent uncertainty. Wang Wen also believed unrest would remain limited to Tibetan areas, thoug he conceded protests could "theoretically" cop up in certain parts of Xinjiang. Apart from Uighurs and Tibetans, however, "other minorities" in China are "largely satisfied," Wang asserted. Critical of China's Information Control -------------- ¶6. (C) Both editors were highly critical of the Government's tight control of information regarding the unrest. Propaganda Department authorities have directed Chinese newspapers to use only articles disseminated by the official press agency Xinhua, Chang said. While "unfortunate," Chang said the information controls are "typical" of the Party's response to crises. "Overreacting" and restricting access to information is one of China's "greatest weaknesses" during a crisis, Chang said, asserting that China faced the "same problem" during the recent snowstorms in south and central China. Wang also criticized the information controls, though he said his newspaper has been given greater leeway to report, the only paper in China authorized to do so. Nevertheless, his paper still must do so within "strict parameters." Wang was reluctant to describe the parameters. "No Way" for Foreigners and Diplomats to Access Tibet -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) There is "no way" the Chinese Government will allow foreign press and diplomats to access Tibetan areas in China, Wang averred. Wang cited a number of reasons for the leadership's reluctance to do so, beginning with a possible "loss of face" for Chinese authorities, in part by implying that China needs foreign "help" to report on the "real" situation there. The safety of reporters and diplomats also could "not be guaranteed," Wang said, noting that even though things in Tibet are quiet now, there is no guarantee they will stay that way. The leadership also wants to avoid "internationalizing" the Tibet unrest a la the Tiananmen protests of 1989, which could happen if the foreign press is let in, Wang said. Finally, the Party simply "does not trust" the overseas press, Wang said, citing a recent Reuters photo from Lhasa that had supposedly been "doctored" as one example of the "bias" of the Western press. Impact on Olympics: Divergent Views -------------- ¶8. (C) Our contacts held divergent views on the possible impact of the unrest on the Olympics. The Olympics remain "extremely important" to the Chinese people, Chang Shaoyang said, noting that the last thing the public and leadership wants to see is anything that would mar a successful Games. For that reason, the international community should not attempt to politicize the Games by threatening a Tibet-related boycott, Chang warned, which would only result in a "strong backlash" from the Chinese people. For Wang Wen, however, the Olympic Games are "not the Party's primary concern." China's "core interests" are social stability, Taiwan and preserving Communist Party rule. China does have a great deal invested in the Games in terms of money, time and prestige, and perhaps even in the political future of new Politburo Standing Committee member Xi Jinping, who has been put in charge of the Games' preparation. Nonetheless, Wang averred, the Games simply are not a "core interest" for China, and China is prepared to "sacrifice" the Olympics if necessary to preserve its vital interests. Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) Wang Wen and Chang Shaoyang are the fourth Embassy contacts to report that the central leadership has ordered security forces to exercise "restraint" in responding to the unrest in Tibetan unrest (reftels). Although several sources have discussed the leadership's anxiety over social stability and the Olympic Games, Wang Wen is the first contact to cite Taiwan as a primary concern influencing PRC leaders' handling of the current protests. RANDT