CHINA OPPOSES FOUR SUDAN-RELATED DESIGNATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 002201 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/PSC JEAN T. CLARK E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018 TAGS: PREL ETTC EFIN KTFN PTER UNSC SU CH SUBJECT: CHINA OPPOSES FOUR SUDAN-RELATED DESIGNATIONS REF: A. BEIJING 2047 ¶B. STATE 56630 (NOTAL) Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo told PolOff June 6 that China will oppose adding the four Sudan-related names (ref B) to the asset freeze and travel ban list maintained by the 1591 Committee. Sun said China takes a "cautious attitude" and does not believe sanctions will resolve the crisis in Darfur. He said now is a sensitive time, because the international community is focused on deploying peacekeepers and on bringing Sudanese parties to the negotiating table. Additional sanctions would "further complicate and make more difficult" achieving the international community's objectives. ¶2. (C) Sun said that the United States often asks China to intercede with the Government of Sudan to achieve political objectives on Darfur. Agreeing to add these names to the sanctions list would, however, "put China in a very difficult position." For the above reasons, China urges the United States to "think twice" about adding the four names. ¶3. (C) PolOff said the United States regrets the Chinese decision. Experience has shown that the Government of Sudan acts only under pressure and, in any case, there is no doubt that the four individuals' actions put them within the scope of UNSC Resolution 1591 sanctions. PICCUTA