UNSC RESOLUTION ON SOMALI PIRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001734 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT KCRM UNSC SO CH SUBJECT: UNSC RESOLUTION ON SOMALI PIRACY REF: STATE 47531 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolOff on May 6 conveyed to MFA reftel points explaining the basis for the draft UN Security Council resolution on piracy off the coast of Somalia. MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo said China agrees in principle to a UNSC resolution on piracy off Somalia and noted that China has been the victim of such piracy. China, however, is concerned that any resolution "respect the rights of the country concerned as well as internationally recognized political and legal norms, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)." PolOff reiterated that the United States agrees that it is important to have Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) consent and that nothing authorized under the draft resolution would violate UNCLOS, but that there are sound reasons for not including an explicit requirement for TFG consent or authorization. Sun said China is "particularly sensitive on this point," but expressed confidence that drafters in New York can find a way to reach consensus. RANDT