SINO-FRENCH RELATIONS: DESPITE OUTCRY, IT COULD BE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001570

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD KOLY FR CH
SUBJECT: SINO-FRENCH RELATIONS: DESPITE OUTCRY, IT COULD BE
WORSE

REF: A. OSC/FBIS CPP20080422508002


B. OSC/FBIS CPP20080422968057

C. 07 BEIJING 6376

D. 07 BEIJING 6716

E. BEIJING 1550

F. OSC/FBIS CPP20080422075001

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4
(B/D).


1. (C) Summary: Despite recent well-publicized protests and
calls for boycotts of French companies, Sino-French relations
are not in a downward spiral, French Embassy Counselor Erkki
Maillard told PolOff April 23. The Chinese Government
appears to be taking a firm public line on France to assuage
nationalistic sentiments at home while simultaneously taking
steps to ensure that relations with France remain stable. At
this time, no major visits have been cancelled, and
high-level official exchanges and dialogue are continuing as
before. According to Maillard, France's placating of Chinese
displeasure seems to have worked with the Chinese Government
if not the Chinese people. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Recent Chinese public indignation over protests at
the Paris stage of the Olympic Torch Run centered on widely
circulated photos of what appeared to be protestors attacking
wheelchair-bound Paralympic athlete Jin Jing in an attempt to
wrestle the torch away from her. Chinese public furor over
the incident prompted French President Sarkozy to dispatch
French Senate Speaker Christian Poncelet to China to
hand-deliver a letter from the president expressing his
regret (ref A). The Torch Run protests and Internet rumors
that French companies finance the Dalai Lama have resulted in
nationalistic demonstrations in China and calls for a boycott
of French companies, including Louis Vuitton and Carrefour.


3. (C) Official Chinese comment on current relations with
France has been tight-lipped. MFA European Department France
Division officials declined to comment, but MFA Spokeswoman
Jiang Yu, during the regular biweekly press conference April
22, urged France to "respond positively to the Chinese
people's reasonable appeals" regarding Tibet, as well as to
"show understanding and support for the legitimate and
necessary measures" taken to maintain order. Simultaneously,
Jiang reaffirmed that China "cherishes" its friendly
relations with France and said former Chinese Ambassador to
France Zhao Jinjun visited Paris April 18-22 to act as
special representative on behalf of Chinese President Hu
Jintao (refs E and F).


4. (C) French Embassy Counselor Erkki Maillard told PolOff
April 23 that the Government of France, mindful of the
downturn in Sino-German relations that followed German
Chancellor Angela Merkel's September 23 meeting with the
Dalai Lama (refs C and D),is dispatching several
representatives to smooth tensions, including former Prime
Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Diplomatic Advisor to the
President Jean-David Levitte. However, Maillard said,
despite the public hew and cry, French relations with China
are not in a downward spiral. China has so far not canceled
any scheduled high-level visits or French programs in China.


5. (C) Maillard said the Chinese government is currently
taking a firm public line on France to avoid appearing soft,
while simultaneously continuing to encourage dialogue and
exchange with France. Despite the public bluster, Maillard
feels Sino-French relations are nowhere near as rocky as
Sino-German relations were following Chancellor Merkel's
September 23 meeting with the Dalai Lama. Conciliatory
measures from the French, including a speedy apology from the
President over the Torch Run incident and repeated statements
from French companies that they do not finance the Dalai
Lama, appear to have appeased the Chinese Government, if not
necessarily the Chinese people, Maillard said.
PICCUTA