Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING1780
2008-05-09 04:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
AFM LIU JIEYI SUGGESTS BURMESE GOVERNMENT OPEN TO
how-toVZCZCXRO9166 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #1780 1300400 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090400Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7153 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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).
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
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