Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING3318
2008-08-27 10:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
ABKHAZIA AND OSSETIA: CHINA WILL NEITHER RECOGNIZE
how-toVZCZCXRO9533 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #3318 2401027 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271027Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9573 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0110 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 9083 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2060
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003318
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR GG RU CH
SUBJECT: ABKHAZIA AND OSSETIA: CHINA WILL NEITHER RECOGNIZE
NOR PUBLICLY REJECT RUSSIA'S RECOGNITION
REF: STATE 91894
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003318
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR GG RU CH
SUBJECT: ABKHAZIA AND OSSETIA: CHINA WILL NEITHER RECOGNIZE
NOR PUBLICLY REJECT RUSSIA'S RECOGNITION
REF: STATE 91894
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) China will not recognize the independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, but will not publicly reject Russia's
recognition of the two breakaway regions, a Chinese MFA
official indicated August 27. China will continue to urge
Russia, including in private discussions at the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Dushanbe this week,
to resolve the conflict with Georgia via negotiation and
consultation. China supports a UN Security Council role in
mediating the conflict but opposes "confrontation or
friction" with the parties. End Summary.
No Recognition, No Public Rejection
--------------
2. (C) PolOff, together with UK and French Embassy PolOffs,
on August 27 delivered to MFA International Organizations and
Conferences Department UN Division Acting Director Sun Xiaobo
reftel points calling on China to reject publicly Russia's
recognition of the independence of the breakaway Georgian
provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. (Note: The MFA
canceled a scheduled meeting at which PolMinCouns and UK
counterpart were to deliver reftel points.) Sun said that
China has consistently advocated that the major parties to
the conflict in Georgia resolve their differences through
dialogue and consultation. China has noted the Russian move
to recognize the breakaway regions, but is still
"calculating" its response and has taken no formal position.
"Speaking personally," Sun said it would be "very unlikely"
that China would recognize the two regions, but China would
also be "very prudent" about publicly rejecting the Russian
move. China's goal, he said, is to bring this difficult
issue to a "soft landing" and it would take any actions with
that goal in mind.
Chinese Approaches to Russia
--------------
3. (C) Sun said China has approached Russian officials,
including at senior levels, to urge that Russia "not
escalate" the conflict with Georgia and instead rely on
dialogue and consultation. China's delegation would discuss
this with Russia in Dushanbe at the SCO summit, which
President Hu and FM Yang are attending. Sun, however, had no
information on how the Georgia conflict would be treated in
official SCO outcome documents.
UNSC Role and UNOMIG Renewal
--------------
4. (C) Sun said China continues to support a UN Security
Council (UNSC) role in resolving the conflict and appreciates
the work of the French Government on mediation. However,
China opposes any "confrontation or friction" with parties to
the conflict. Sun acknowledged that MFA officials are not
looking forward to UNSC discussion of the extension of the UN
Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) mandate in mid-October,
when China holds the UNSC Presidency. Though China has
supported UNOMIG's work in the past, the issue will be very
difficult, and it is no longer clear that Abkhazia agrees to
the presence of UN observers. "It will be a headache,"
concluded Sun.
RANDT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR GG RU CH
SUBJECT: ABKHAZIA AND OSSETIA: CHINA WILL NEITHER RECOGNIZE
NOR PUBLICLY REJECT RUSSIA'S RECOGNITION
REF: STATE 91894
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) China will not recognize the independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, but will not publicly reject Russia's
recognition of the two breakaway regions, a Chinese MFA
official indicated August 27. China will continue to urge
Russia, including in private discussions at the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Dushanbe this week,
to resolve the conflict with Georgia via negotiation and
consultation. China supports a UN Security Council role in
mediating the conflict but opposes "confrontation or
friction" with the parties. End Summary.
No Recognition, No Public Rejection
--------------
2. (C) PolOff, together with UK and French Embassy PolOffs,
on August 27 delivered to MFA International Organizations and
Conferences Department UN Division Acting Director Sun Xiaobo
reftel points calling on China to reject publicly Russia's
recognition of the independence of the breakaway Georgian
provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. (Note: The MFA
canceled a scheduled meeting at which PolMinCouns and UK
counterpart were to deliver reftel points.) Sun said that
China has consistently advocated that the major parties to
the conflict in Georgia resolve their differences through
dialogue and consultation. China has noted the Russian move
to recognize the breakaway regions, but is still
"calculating" its response and has taken no formal position.
"Speaking personally," Sun said it would be "very unlikely"
that China would recognize the two regions, but China would
also be "very prudent" about publicly rejecting the Russian
move. China's goal, he said, is to bring this difficult
issue to a "soft landing" and it would take any actions with
that goal in mind.
Chinese Approaches to Russia
--------------
3. (C) Sun said China has approached Russian officials,
including at senior levels, to urge that Russia "not
escalate" the conflict with Georgia and instead rely on
dialogue and consultation. China's delegation would discuss
this with Russia in Dushanbe at the SCO summit, which
President Hu and FM Yang are attending. Sun, however, had no
information on how the Georgia conflict would be treated in
official SCO outcome documents.
UNSC Role and UNOMIG Renewal
--------------
4. (C) Sun said China continues to support a UN Security
Council (UNSC) role in resolving the conflict and appreciates
the work of the French Government on mediation. However,
China opposes any "confrontation or friction" with parties to
the conflict. Sun acknowledged that MFA officials are not
looking forward to UNSC discussion of the extension of the UN
Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) mandate in mid-October,
when China holds the UNSC Presidency. Though China has
supported UNOMIG's work in the past, the issue will be very
difficult, and it is no longer clear that Abkhazia agrees to
the presence of UN observers. "It will be a headache,"
concluded Sun.
RANDT