Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING260
2008-01-24 10:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
SINO-GERMAN RELATIONS BACK ON TRACK
how-toVZCZCXRO9849 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #0260 0241033 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241033Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4616 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 1656 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3271
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000260
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH GM
SUBJECT: SINO-GERMAN RELATIONS BACK ON TRACK
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000260
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH GM
SUBJECT: SINO-GERMAN RELATIONS BACK ON TRACK
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b/d).
1. (C) Several high-level German officials plan to visit
China in the wake of the recent thaw in Sino-German
relations, which soured after Chancellor Merkel's September
23 meeting with the Dalai Lama. German Embassy Second
Secretary Dirk Lechelt told PolOff January 24 that German
SIPDIS
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier plans to visit in
May and Minister of the Environment Sigmar Gabriel will visit
early in the year. Whether a planned Human Rights Dialogue,
canceled by China after Merkel's meeting with the Dalai Lama,
will also be rescheduled is uncertain. However, the Foreign
Minister-level Strategic Dialogue and a Ministers of Justice
sub-dialogue are now being scheduled. German President Horst
Koehler may also attend the Paralympics, but will most likely
not attend the Olympics.
2. (C) Lechelt said the thaw in relations followed an
exchange of letters between the Foreign Ministers of the two
nations, an idea agreed upon by both parties during
unpublicized meetings on the margins of the Annapolis
Conference November 26-27. The Germans stressed their
adherence to a one China policy, including both Taiwan and
Tibet, and called the proposed Taiwan UN referendum a
"mistake." A similar situation arose in 1996 when the German
Government offended the Chinese government over Tibet.
According to Lechelt, the subsequent thaw in relations at
that time was also achieved via a confidential exchange of
letters between Foreign Ministers.
RANDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH GM
SUBJECT: SINO-GERMAN RELATIONS BACK ON TRACK
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b/d).
1. (C) Several high-level German officials plan to visit
China in the wake of the recent thaw in Sino-German
relations, which soured after Chancellor Merkel's September
23 meeting with the Dalai Lama. German Embassy Second
Secretary Dirk Lechelt told PolOff January 24 that German
SIPDIS
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier plans to visit in
May and Minister of the Environment Sigmar Gabriel will visit
early in the year. Whether a planned Human Rights Dialogue,
canceled by China after Merkel's meeting with the Dalai Lama,
will also be rescheduled is uncertain. However, the Foreign
Minister-level Strategic Dialogue and a Ministers of Justice
sub-dialogue are now being scheduled. German President Horst
Koehler may also attend the Paralympics, but will most likely
not attend the Olympics.
2. (C) Lechelt said the thaw in relations followed an
exchange of letters between the Foreign Ministers of the two
nations, an idea agreed upon by both parties during
unpublicized meetings on the margins of the Annapolis
Conference November 26-27. The Germans stressed their
adherence to a one China policy, including both Taiwan and
Tibet, and called the proposed Taiwan UN referendum a
"mistake." A similar situation arose in 1996 when the German
Government offended the Chinese government over Tibet.
According to Lechelt, the subsequent thaw in relations at
that time was also achieved via a confidential exchange of
letters between Foreign Ministers.
RANDT