CHINA CONFIRMS HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001512

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/CM, DRL
NSC FOR WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2033
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV AS CH
SUBJECT: CHINA CONFIRMS HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE WITH
AUSTRALIA BUT REFUSES TO DISCUSS TIBET SITUATION


Classified By: Political Internal Unit Chief
Dan Kritenbrink. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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


1. (C) Australian diplomat Nicholas Purtell told PolOff that
China on April 17 confirmed its participation in the
Sino-Australian human rights dialogue round already
provisionally scheduled for May 1 in Canberra, with AFM Liu
Jieyi serving as head of the Chinese delegation. China is
willing to discuss some Tibet-related issues under the rubric
of "minority rights" but will not discuss the "current
evolving situation" in Tibet on grounds that it is an
"internal matter" and not a "human rights problem." As in
the past, China will participate in a meeting with NGOs, but
this time only on condition that NGO attendance at the
meeting be severely restricted. China's confirmation that it
will participate in dialogue with Australia immediately
follows Prime Minister Rudd's visit to China. Particularly
during an April 9 speech at Beijing University, PM Rudd
emphasized the importance of Australia's relationship with
China, while at the same time speaking critically of China's
record on human rights and the crackdown in Tibet, Purtell
said. End Summary.

Sino-Australian Dialogue Set; AFM Liu Jieyi will Lead
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2. (C) On April 18, Australia diplomat Nicolas Purtell told
PolOff that AFM Liu Jieyi will head China's delegation at the
next round of Sino-Australian human rights dialogue on May 1
in Canberra, while noting that China has placed "significant
conditions" on the topics for discussion. China, which
confirmed on April 17 its participation, will allow for
discussion on some Tibet-related topics including "relations
with the Dalai Lama" under the heading of "minority rights,"
but Beijing will not discuss the "current evolving situation"
in Tibet. Chinese officials said that the situation in Tibet
is an "internal matter" and not a "human rights problem" for
discussion in dialogue. China also declined Australia's
invitation to focus on "media and governance" as a dialogue
topic, though it will address questions about these issues in
an "open session." China will also not agree to discussion
of temporary rules for foreign journalists or the subject of
North Korean refugees. (Note: According to EU Mission
PolOff Anna-Karin Friis, China has agreed to allow discussion
of the temporary rules for journalists during its upcoming
dialogue with the European Union, scheduled for May 15 in
Slovenia.) Chinese officials reportedly said they will
"update" Australia on China's one-child policy but will not
treat the policy as a "human rights issue." There will be no
field trip.

China Severely Restricts NGO Participation
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3. (C) Purtell said China proposed holding a joint press
conference with Australia at the conclusion of the May 1
dialogue round, consistent with past practice between the two
countries. The Chinese delegation also agreed to meet with
six NGOs in Canberra. However, China will not permit Amnesty
International, Tibet-related Australian NGOs or certain other
NGOs that have participated in past meetings to attend.
Purtell said there is a "60 percent" chance that Australia
will cancel the NGO meeting rather than accede to Chinese
limitations, a "40 percent" chance that Australia will accept
Chinese limitations and hold the meeting and only a "small
chance" that Australia will cancel the entire dialogue round
due to such limitations.

Agreement on Dialogue Follows Rudd's Visit, Criticism
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4. (C) China's confirmation that it will move forward with
dialogue came immediately following the conclusion of Prime
Minister Rudd's visit to China, Purtell noted. Though Rudd
spoke critically of China's record on human rights and the
crackdown in Tibet, including during a speech delivered at
Peking University (Beida),Purtell said MFA officials have
not "taken this out" on the Sino-Australian dialogue.
Purtell said Peking University officials privately stated
that they "loved Rudd's speech" despite the criticism on
human rights, because Rudd displayed a "nuanced understanding
of history" and a "sense of how to approach his audience."
(Note: Netizens have criticized Rudd's Beida speech as
"harsh," while official state media have given scant coverage
of Rudd's critical comments on issues, especially his remarks

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on "significant" human rights problems in Tibet. The
official English-language China Daily, for example, only
briefly acknowledged that Rudd raised Tibet human rights
issues. PRC media have paid much more attention to Rudd's
offer of "true friendship" (zhengyou) to China, which Rudd
defined in his speech as "a partner who sees beyond immediate
benefit to the broader and firm basis for continuing,
profound and sincere friendship.")
PICCUTA