CHINA URGED TO RECONSIDER FOUR SUDAN-RELATED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002277 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/PSC - JEAN T. CLARK E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018 TAGS: ETTC PREL EFIN KTFN PTER UNSC SU CH SUBJECT: CHINA URGED TO RECONSIDER FOUR SUDAN-RELATED DESIGNATIONS REF: A. A) STATE 61842 (NOTAL) ¶B. B) BEIJING 2201 ¶C. C) BEIJING 2047 ¶D. D) STATE 56630 (NOTAL) Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Per ref A instructions, PolMinCouns on June 11 urged China to support the addition of four names to the UN Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) Sudan Sanctions Committee's consolidated asset freeze and travel ban list. MFA International Organizations Department Deputy Director General Li Junhua responded that adding the four names would "complicate" the deployment of peacekeeping forces and hurt prospects for a political solution to the Darfur crisis. China remains unconvinced that the information provided on the four individuals makes a case for sanctions. Noting a desire to avoid a "public split," Li suggested the Chinese and U.S. Missions in New York hold "expert discussions" on this issue. End Summary. China Not Enthusiastic about Sanctions -------------- ¶2. (C) PolMinCouns on June 11 conveyed ref A points urging China to support the addition of four names to the consolidated asset freeze and travel ban list maintained by the Committee established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) concerning Sudan. MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department Deputy Director General Li Junhua said that China appreciates advance notice of the U.S. proposal and the opportunity to consult. China attaches great importance to the Darfur issue and wants to work with the United States to resolve the crisis. Thus, he said, he would pass the U.S. points to senior MFA officials. However, he said that China "is not enthusiastic about sanctions" and urges the United States to reconsider its plan to propose the addition of the four names. Such a move at this "critical juncture" could "complicate" the situation. Four Reasons -------------- ¶3. (C) Li gave four reasons for China's opposition to adding the four names to the 1591 sanctions list. First, he said that the imposition of sanctions could affect the Government of Sudan's "fragile" acceptance of the deployment of the UN-African Union hybrid force of peacekeepers and further slow the force's deployment. Second, sanctioning the four individuals could affect the Sudanese Government's willingness to participate in political negotiations to reach a solution to the Darfur crisis. Third, "technically speaking," China remains unconvinced that the information that the United States has provided so far makes a case for sanctioning the four individuals. Fourth, noting that China abstained on UNSCR 1591, Li said China continues to be skeptical of the utility of sanctions in solving the Darfur crisis. In China's view, sanctions would not lead to a solution but rather would cause the Government of Sudan to become suspicious of and uncooperative with international efforts on Darfur. Li said Sudan's Vice President is currently in China and Chinese leaders are urging him to cooperate with the international community and the UN on Darfur. China's agreeing to sanctions immediately after this visit could backfire and lead to reduced Sudanese cooperation. U.S. Views -------------- ¶4. (C) PolMinCouns responded that while the United States agreed that negotiations are necessary to solve the crisis in Darfur, sanctions and pressure are additional necessary tools. Our experts have considered the factors that Li described and believe that sanctions will be useful in pressuring major actors toward a solution. There is no question that the actions of the four individuals meet the BEIJING 00002277 002 OF 002 criteria for sanctions. In any case, handling the addition of the four names by quiet consensus in committee would be preferable to holding an open vote in the UNSC. Avoiding a Public Split -------------- ¶5. (C) DDG Li agreed that it was preferable to avoid a public split on Sudan among the members of the P5. China's view, however, is still that sanctions would not be helpful to reaching a solution on Darfur. Acknowledging that China "could be wrong," Li suggested that the Chinese and U.S. Missions in New York hold "expert discussions" on this issue. PICCUTA