AFM LIU JIEYI SUGGESTS BURMESE GOVERNMENT OPEN TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001780 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2028 TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID MARR CH BM SUBJECT: AFM LIU JIEYI SUGGESTS BURMESE GOVERNMENT OPEN TO U.S. DISASTER RELIEF AND PACOM COMMANDER VISIT REF: EMBASSY-DEPT/NSC EMAILS 5/7-8/08 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi called the Ambassador May 9 to follow up on their May 7 and May 8 discussions (ref emails) regarding the U.S. offer, including by PACOM, to deliver disaster assistance to Burma and PACOM Commander Admiral Keating's request to place a telephone call to an appropriate interlocutor in the Burmese military. ¶2. (C) AFM Liu said the Chinese Ambassador in Rangoon spoke with his Burmese counterparts, and, in Beijing, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with the Burmese Ambassador to China. ¶3. (C) Because high-level Burmese Government officials are spread throughout the country working on reconstruction efforts, contact between the Burmese Government and the USG should be handled in some way other than a telephone call from Admiral Keating, Liu said. The United States can use "normal channels" (i.e., Embassy Rangoon) to contact Burmese officials in regard to Admiral Keating's offer. Liu added that the Burmese Government welcomes U.S. intentions to provide assistance to Burma and also welcomes Admiral Keating to come to Burma with the assistance. The Burmese authorities will set up official meetings for Admiral Keating if he does come, AFM Liu said. ¶4. (C) AFM Liu provided what he called "friendly advice," suggesting that in providing relief assistance, the USG should "show respect, understanding, sympathy and support to the Burmese Government and people in this time of distress and disaster and avoid politicizing a good thing." This, according to Liu, "will facilitate getting aid to people in Burma." ¶5. (C) Comment: The Embassy takes AFM Liu's message to mean that Chinese may have smoothed the way for Embassy Rangoon to arrange the delivery of PACOM assistance. RANDT